News Forum - Thailand deemed too wealthy to produce generic Molnupiravir

[Jason]

If we don't aid poor countries they will become the breeding ground for the next pandemic. I've seen the poverty in Thailand. But if 80% of the wealth is with 20% of the people, poverty for many is a certainty. At least this medication goes straight to those countries who have been left out of the vaccination loop.

[gummy]

4 minutes ago, HiuMak said:

According to worldbank, Thailand is ranked 25th and Indonesia is ranked 16 in GDP by country.

GDP per capita would be a better judgement.

Perhaps they couldn't mention the unmentionable in their assessment of countries needs so hence the rampant corruption in the Thai government and those that control them played a part insofar as they had little confidence that a) the medication would go to those that needed it or b) It would not be kept and sold at a profit for their own personal financial gain. 

[Stonker]

6 hours ago, Jason said:

But if 80% of the wealth is with 20% of the people, poverty for many is a certainty

True, but far from the full picture.

While the wealthiest 20% own 80% of the wealth, it's a very steep curve after that.

The wealthiest 1% own 67%, and the wealthiest 0.1% own 50%.

Thailand has the biggest inequality gap between rich and poor in the world.

https://www.aseantoday.com/2019/01/thailands-wealth-inequality-is-the-highest-in-the-world-what-does-this-mean-for-upcoming-elections/

[gummy]

3 hours ago, Stonker said:

True, but far from the full picture.

While the wealthiest 20% own 80% of the wealth, it's a very steep curve after that.

The wealthiest 1% own 67%, and the wealthiest 0.1% own 50%.

Thailand has the biggest inequality gap between rich and poor in the world.

https://www.aseantoday.com/2019/01/thailands-wealth-inequality-is-the-highest-in-the-world-what-does-this-mean-for-upcoming-elections/

And many people have been brainwashed into believing the very richest actually do good !!

[HiuMak]

13 hours ago, gummy said:

And many people have been brainwashed into believing the very richest actually do good !!

Richard Koch's principle. You get rid of that 20% you solve 80% problems in Thailand

[gummy]

21 minutes ago, HiuMak said:

Richard Koch's principle. You get rid of that 20% you solve 80% problems in Thailand

Well you get rid of the top 10% you will solve 99% of Thailand's problems . The caveat being that all funds inappropriately taken from Thailand, and those responsible/benefitted  are investigated also and monies returned in line with international fraud/corruption recovery principles.

[MikeTexas]

On 10/29/2021 at 6:23 AM, Benroon said:

Indonesia is wealthier than Thailand by a wide margin so where are they getting their figures from ?

Unless whoever wrote it just slipped them in as they're a neighbour ?

Indonesia is wealthier if measured by total GDP but roughly HALF as wealthy as Thailand in GDP by person (3,816USD vs 7,168USD).  In fact, Thailand (7,168USD) ranks higher than Brazil (6,733USD) in GDP by person.   
Thailand is a fairly rich NATION - now whether or not that trickles down to the masses is another story.  It is ranked 24th of over 210 nations so it is in the upper quarter in total GDP.  Instead of people questioning why they are not viewed as poor they should look into why the people in one of the wealthier nations don't seem to be enjoying in that wealth.  

[MikeTexas]

On 10/29/2021 at 7:25 PM, HiuMak said:

According to worldbank, Thailand is ranked 25th and Indonesia is ranked 16 in GDP by country.

GDP per capita would be a better judgement.

24th is you use the worldbank's most recent data from 2020.  The ranking of 25th in your chart are from 2017.  Thailand is getting wealthier as a nation - but it doesn't seem like that out on the streets.  

[Soidog]

3 hours ago, MikeTexas said:

24th is you use the worldbank's most recent data from 2020.  The ranking of 25th in your chart are from 2017.  Thailand is getting wealthier as a nation - but it doesn't seem like that out on the streets.  

Agreed. It’s not wealthier out on the streets. You would need to check Panama and Swiss bank accounts to find much of the money. A shame more tourists don’t know the real Thailand. Many would not go if they did. 

[HiuMak]

6 hours ago, MikeTexas said:

24th is you use the worldbank's most recent data from 2020.  The ranking of 25th in your chart are from 2017.  Thailand is getting wealthier as a nation - but it doesn't seem like that out on the streets.  

Thats why GDP Per capita makes more sense. Thailand is 74th on the ranking and Indonesia is 99 on the raning from 2017 data

[MikeTexas]

19 hours ago, Soidog said:

Agreed. It’s not wealthier out on the streets. You would need to check Panama and Swiss bank accounts to find much of the money. A shame more tourists don’t know the real Thailand. Many would not go if they did. 

Yes, that is a big problem for other governments when it comes to aid.  How do you justify providing aid to a fairly wealthy nation over a poorer nation when the reality might be that the wealthier nation has a larger poverty problem.  Do you provide aid to make up for the shortcomings of the local economic structure thus ensuring its continuation or do you provide aid to the truly impoverished nation and leave the structural issues to be resolved internally?  I would say that most would want to see their internal problems rectified internally with as little outside influence as possible.  If that is to be the case then income inequality is an internal struggle that outside governments must ignore when deciding where aid, in any form, should be given.  

Agreed on the tourist comment.  If you come for a short holiday you can't see the real Thailand - you stay too isolated.  Stay longer and the veneer wears off and things are surprisingly different.  After that it is a personal mindset that determines if you would enjoy it or not.  The countless tourist I heard saying "that isn't how we do it back home" or "that isn't how we do it" or "this is a better way"  would never be happy.  Only those equipped to understand they are in a new land with new life parameters and accepting to blend in would be able to be happy to a point.  Nobody would be 100% happy due to the constant underlying xenophobia.