A multi-ministry panel has been set up to study the potential impact of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement on the public health sector if Thailand signs up for the deal.
The panel will include the Public Health, Commerce and Foreign ministries, says permanent secretary for public health Sophon Mekthon. The public health minister will advise the panel.
The study results will be sent to the Commerce Ministry to help it decide whether the country should join the US-led bloc, Dr Sophon said.
Critics say the TPP is a secretive, multinational trade agreement that threatens to extend restrictive intellectual property (IP) laws across the globe and rewrite international rules on their enforcement.
Public Health Minister Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn is concerned about the impact the TPP agreement could have on the sector, particularly on intellectual property rights involving drugs and dispute settlements between investors and state agencies, Dr Sophon said.
Other concerns include state procurement, the import of second-hand medical equipment, labels on alcoholic drinks and tobacco, he said. Dr Sophon said the Public Health Ministry will also assess opinions from outside sources about the agreement.
The Public Health Ministry would also come up with steps to ease any fallout that might result from the TPP agreement if the country decides to join it.
The initial results will be submitted to the Commerce Ministry next month, while the full results will be presented in October, he said.
FTA Watch, a group opposed to free-trade deals, said the panel is a good start. Its coordinator, Kannikar Kijtiwatchakul said her group will meet the panel on Monday to discuss why Thailand should not sign up to the agreement.
She said she was concerned about reports that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and his deputy Somkid Jatusripitak were keen to sign the TPP deal. State officials must not rush the study, Ms Kannikar said, insisting it must be meticulous.