US governor opposes changes to drug-buying agencies
Updated at 11:59 am on 13 June 2011
The Governor of Vermont has written to President Barack Obama, opposing any push by the United States for changes to drug-buying agencies such as Pharmac in New Zealand.
A recent letter to the president from seven state governors called for protection for intellectual property rights of US companies in the TransPacific Partnership trade talks.
They said this would help support more than three million American jobs.
But the letter from Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin says drug buying agencies - such as Pharmac in New Zealand - are used by federal and state governments in the US.
Governor Shumlin says attacks on the drug buying agencies of the eight other countries in the TransPacific Partnership could undermine healthcare programmes in the US, such as Medicaid and Medicare.
Copyright © 2011, Radio New Zealand
Top Stories
More News
- National
- World
- Political
- Budget 2013
- Te Manu Korihi
- Regional
- Christchurch Earthquake
- Business
- Rural
- Sport
