Thailand is importing a cheaper, generic version of a heart drug from an Indian supplier that Bangkok licensed to produce the patented medicine, the Thai media reported on Wednesday.

The Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO) said on Wednesday it will import the blood-thinning drug Clopidogrel, which is locally sold as Plavix, at three cents each from Emcure Pharmaceuticals. Emcure won the recent bidding to supply Clopidogrel by offering the lowest price for the drug

Brazil will be receiving an AIDS drug at a 30 percent discount which can save of more than $ 10 million a year to the Exchequer.

The Latin American country, which is effectively fighting Aids and HIV with measures like free distribution of medicines, has signed a deal with U.S. drug-maker Abbott to import the drug, a new version of Kaletra at a slashed price

Thailand's premier announced Thursday that his country will stand by its decision to break patents on pricey U.S.-made AIDS drugs, even after the U.S. reacted by placing it on a list of copyright violators.

Thai Public Health Minister Mongkol Na is scheduled to travel to the U.S. on May 5 to sign an agreement with the Clinton Foundation on obtaining cheaper drugs. He would again travel to the U.S. later this month to explain Thailand's decision to Congress and other public and private agencies

The U.S. drug maker Abbott Laboratories announced Tuesday that it will offer the AIDS-fighting drug Kaletra, also marketed under the name Aluvia, at a reduced price in Thailand and other low and lower-middle-income countries. The news would reportedly resolve a dispute between Thailand and Abbott over the high price of Kaletra.

Dr. Siriwat Tiptaradol, secretary-general of Thailand's Food and Drug Administration, was quoted saying in a news release from his agency, "The company today offered to lower its price for its AIDS drug Kaletra from 5,938 baht ($181) per patient per month to 3,488.20 baht ($107) per patient per month which could end up being cheaper than its generic version

Thailand's health ministry has said it has approved the production of generic versions of the patented anti-AIDS drug Kaletra and the heart drug Plavix. The decision has drawn praise from AIDS campaigners, but pharmaceutical companies are outraged.

Health Minister Mongkol Na Songkhla said not enough people are able to afford Kaletra and Plavix under their current prices. About half a million people in Thailand have HIV, but the country is only able to provide anti-AIDS medications for a fifth of them