E-drug: Nevirapine donation (cont)
---------------------------------------------
Dear E-druggers:
Though Boehringer-Ingelheim isn't a member of my organization, I'd like to
comment on the inquiry from BUKO on the status of that firm's program of
donating nevirapine for prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV.
The Viramune Donation Program has been in operation for about 18 months.
While there were not a great many applicants early on, participation has
increased substantially in recent months -- it is now underway in 23 nations
from Eastern Europe to Africa and the Caribbean. More than a few thousand
children have already been born HIV-free thanks to it. As is so often the
case, this program could not get fully underway until the needed
infrastructure was in place. Even a free drug needs hands to deliver it
Healthy skepticism has a place, of course. But much of the above information
could be gleaned simply from a very well done website,
www.viramune-donation-program.org. The forthrightness presented on that site
is, to my mind, evidence of how earnest and open Boerhinger-Ingelheim is on
this matter.
Rather than always seeking to find fault with such efforts, I suggest we
approach them with an open mind.
James B. Russo
Executive Director
The Partnership for Quality Medical Donations
146 Koenig Road
Bernville, PA 19506
USA
610 488 8303
610 488 7036 (fax)
JBRusso@aol.com
--
To send a message to E-Drug, write to: e-drug@usa.healthnet.org
To subscribe or unsubscribe, write to: majordomo@usa.healthnet.org
in the body of the message type: subscribe e-drug OR unsubscribe e-drug
To contact a person, send a message to: owner-e-drug@usa.healthnet.org
Information and archives: http://www.healthnet.org/programs/edrug.html