2 July 2015

New leaks show Pharmac loser in TPPA negotiation

New leaked documents from the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) show that New Zealanders could lose access to affordable medication, said the Green Party today.

Draft copies of the text dated May 11, obtained by Politico, show that the US had aggressively and successfully advocated on behalf of big pharmaceutical companies to ensure that generic medication will face tough challenges in overseas markets.

“The leaked text indicates that big pharma are winning the lobbying war in the TPPA negotiations and the New Zealand public will lose out as a result,” said Green Party Co-leader James Shaw.

“Pharmac could really suffer if name-brand pharmaceutical companies can challenge generic medication – it will mean less competition in the market and more expensive medication for ordinary New Zealanders.

“John Key keeps reassuring us that Pharmac will not be affected by the TPPA but all the leaked texts to date show that New Zealanders will lose out.

“It is looking increasingly like Pharmac will not be scrapped but the TPPA will make it near impossible for it to do its job.

“Clearly the US negotiators are doing a much better job advocating for their big pharmaceutical companies than Tim Groser is doing for Kiwis.

“New Zealand has always prided itself on having affordable medication, and kneecapping Pharmac does not help anyone.

“New Zealand should not be signing an agreement that disadvantages Kiwis in favour of big companies. John Key needs to pull out of the TPPA now,” said Mr Shaw.

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