23 September 2013 (23:10 UTC-07 Tango 22 September 2013)/18 Dhu ‘l-Qa’da 1434/01 Mehr 1391/19 Xin-You (8th month) 4711

The U.S. led TPP (Trans Pacific Partnership) will cause prescription drug prices to skyrocket, according to New Zealand based head of the Global Asthma Network and Auckland University Professor, Innes Asher: “A lobby group influenced by the pharmaceutical industry is seeking to eliminate therapeutic reference pricing and introduce appeals processes that will allow pharmaceutical companies to challenge formulary listing and pricing decisions. It is also trying to introduce onerous disclosure and ‘ transparency’ provisions that will facilitate industry involvement in domestic decision-making around coverage, reimbursement and pricing of medicines and medical devices…..  The TPP will most likely increase costs and reduce access to affordable medicines….”