Big pharma against CL move but WHO agrees

Right to get treatment: It was reported last year that there were 400,000 Hepatitis C sufferers in Malaysia, with only a fraction who could afford the RM300,000 cost. — AFP

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s bold move to impose compulsory licence (CL) on the drug sofosbuvir has been heavily criticised by big pharmaceutical companies, but has the support of the World Health Organisation (WHO).

WHO advocates universal health coverage and that means access to life-saving treatment, said its head of mission and representative to Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore Dr Lo Ying-Ru.