E-DRUG: Fluconazole Celebration : TAC and its allies celebarate victory
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[copied from treatment-access@hivnet.ch with thanks; WB]
Fluconazole Celebration : TAC and its allies celebarate victory!
by Zackie Achmat
At 10h30 on 3 April 2000, Treatment Action Campaign executive members Mark Heywood and
Zackie Achmat and their attorneys Anita Kleinschmidt and Teboho Motibhile were preparing
with Advocate Gilbert Marcus SC to launch an application against pharmaceutical giant
Pfizer. The phone rang and they were informed that Pfizer had agreed to supply
Diflucan/fluconazole to "all people with HIV/AIDS in South Africa who could not afford
the drug" and who had cryptococcal meningitis. Was it a hoax? No. Ms Thabi Ndiye,
the Corporate Affairs Director for Pfizer (SA) confirmed the offer telephonically
and forwarded the written response from the company's headquarters in New York.
TAC agreed that we would not call off the pickets in Johannesburg and Cape Town.
Nor, would we shelve our poster "AIDS Profiteer". This was an unexpected victory.
But the majority of drug companies continue to profiteer from HIV/AIDS.
Pfizer took a bold step. An action not undertaken by any drug company in the
developing world. This step is to be applauded. The company showed courage and
that should be supported by every activist.
From 13h00 more than 100 activists descended on corporate Johannesburg in Sandton,
we had come to hear Pfizer's news. Activists in HIV Positive t-shirts loudly
shouted slogans. Beautifully home-painted posters in red and green declaring:
"Pfizer we are dying of cryptococcal meningitis" vied for places with "AIDS Profiteer".
Leaders from Cosatu, Nactu, religious organisations and HIV/AIDS organisations sang,
toyi-toyi-ed and shouted slogans with TAC activist.
This was a tremendous occasion-the first light in weeks of darkness for people
with HIV/AIDS and AIDS activists in our country. For a moment we forgot that
some people are still repeating the scientifically discredited views of "scientists"
who argue that HIV and AIDS does not exist. For a moment we forgot that the Minister
of Health and the government have not provided AZT or Nevirapine to pregnant women
or rape survivors. We had fun and celebrated our victory! The two SAPS members sent
to supervise the picket were the only people who were miserable. (Next time we will
ensure that police unions POPCRU and SAPU join our pickets!)
When Mark Heywood introduced Ms. Thabi Ndiye, the Corporate Affairs Director of
Pfizer the excitement could almost be felt and seen. Ms Ndiye arrived to speak on
behalf of Pfizer. She stated that the company had undertaken this action because
it shared the TAC concern in the HIV/AIDS crisis. She explained that they have
asked the Minister of Health for an urgent meeting to set up a mechanism for
the rapid and effective distribution of Diflucan in a clinically responsible
manner. She confirmed that the offer was for all people who could not afford the
drug in South Africa. Ms. Ndiye was followed by Zackie Achmat speaking on
behalf of the TAC.
Zackie Achmat welcomed Pfizer's step and their courage. TAC also agreed wholeheartedly
that distribution should take place on the basis of clear medical guidelines and
clinical indications. He informed Pfizer that there were two items apart from a
distribution mechanism that the TAC would place on the agenda in its meeting
with the company:
1) that Pfizer join with TAC and its global allies such as MSF and Health Gap
Coalition to make Diflucan affordable to all people who cannot afford it
throughout the world, and, especially in Africa, Asia and Latin America; and
2) that the issue of fluconazole for systemic thrush needed the same courageous
stand as shown with cryptococcal menigitis with a dramatic price reduction.
Zackie Achmat called on all drug companies to follow Pfizer's example.
Dumidiso Modise-the HIV/AIDS co-ordinator of the labour federation NACTU followed
Zackie Achmat. He also welcomed the Pfizer action. He pointed out that trade unions
regard HIV treatment access as a human rights issue. Comrade Modise asked all
trade unionists to support human rights issues and to fight for affordable
HIV/AIDS treatment. He cautioned Pfizer and the government not to delay the
distribution of fluconazole through "process" speak. Hundreds of people were
dying daily because they did not have access to this life-saving drug.
He reiterated NACTU's support for the TAC and for further action against the
drug companies. He also called for a price reduction to ensure that the government
can buy the drug.
Theo Steele- the Campaigns Co-ordinator of Cosatu, the largest labour federation
in the country stated that this victory is the result of united action by trade
union federations, religious bodies and HIV/AIDS organisations. She pointed out
that the road ahead was difficult and hard. Comrade Steele called on all people
to build their unions and civil society organisations. She urged all people in
SA to join TAC and to moblise for the March for Treatment at the opening of the
International AIDS Conference in Durban. The picket dispersed peacefully after
singing Nkosi-Sikelele Afrika!
In the hours that followed every major radio station in the country announced the
victory-Mark Heywood was interviewed by more than 10 radio stations. The major
dailies all prepared stories while the main evening TV newsbulletins carried
stories without pictures.
All TAC members realise that gifts from major drug companies will not solve the
problem of high prices and sustainability within the health care system.
Prices must come down and governments must ensure that they stay down.
But, Pfizer has shown that drug companies can dramatically reduce prices
(they can even give drugs away) without losing profits! This is a watershed
in our battle.
The Treatment Action Campaign extends its thanks to activists across our country;
to doctors who wrote to Pfizer; to religious leaders such as Anglican Archbishop
Ndungane, Farid Essack and the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference.
We also thank Doctors without Borders; ACT-UP; Health Gap Coalition and ACT-UP Paris
among the supporters of the campaign across the globe. Above all, the unstinting
support of the AIDS Law Project and the AIDS Consortium have made this victory
possible.
a. TAC asks every activist to join the March for Treatment on 9 July 2000 in Durban.
b.. We ask all activists, people with HIV/AIDS, health-care professionals, community
and religious leaders to attend the official sattelite conference at Durban 2000
co-hosted by Medecins Sans Frontieres and Treatment Action Campaign.
Zackie Achmat
email: zackie@pixie.co.za
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