E-DRUG: SADC Health Ministers press release
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[the SAPA press summary distributed yesterday was incorrect in
stating that the SADC Health Ministers had agreed to bulk purchasing
of anti-retroviral drugs. The Ministers agreed only to a pilot test
of a bulk purchasing scheme using 5 anti-TB drugs.
Anyway, below the official press release from SADC Health Ministers.
WB]
STATEMENT OF THE SADC HEALTH MINISTERS' MEETING
SADC Health Ministers and the Health Minister of Rwanda met in a
special meeting held in the Chris Hani - Baragwanath Hospital, South
Africa on the 4th and 5th November 1999.
The meeting was convened to specifically review some elements of the
HIV/AIDS response in the Region. Prominent scientists and senior
officials from Member States, including representatives from the World
Health Organization and UNAIDS participated in an open and frank
sharing of information.
The Ministers wish at the outset to express profound appreciation to
His Excellency, the Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa -
Mr Jacob Zuma for opening this meeting and reaffirming the support of
the political leadership of the Region.
The Ministers reviewed an HIV/AIDS strategic plan, which had been
prepared by a Task Team they had established in their meeting in April
1999 and led by Zambia with the aim of providing a framework for a
coordinated response in the Region for the period up to 2003.
It remains the firm view of the Ministers that the most urgent
challenge of the regional and national programmes is the
implementation of multi-sectoral interventions aimed at primary
prevention of the spread of HIV/AIDS.
The Health Ministers also reviewed ongoing work aimed at the reduction
of mother to child transmission particularly the use of Zidovudine
(AZT) and Nevirapine. It was noted that current evidence still
suggests that around 75% of HIV positive women will give birth to an
HIV negative child without the use of any of the antiretroviral
agents. It was also noted that the administration of either Zidovudine
(AZT) or Nevirapine may increase the number of children born HIV
negative to HIV positive mothers to around 85-90%.
Whilst encouraged by these results, the Ministers expressed grave
concern over the possible side effects as a result of their toxicity
and the potential development of resistance to these compounds. The
Ministers felt that there was a need to research the effects of
unnecessary exposure of children and mothers to these drugs. The
Ministers charged the SADC scientists to work in a coordinated manner
to address these concerns as well as establish the effects on
breastfeeding of some of the strategies to prevent MTCT in developing
countries.
The Ministers also noted that, to be successful, any programme of
antiretroviral drug use has to be built on the solid foundation of
other important interventions such as voluntary counseling and
testing; overall strengthening of the health systems and the primary
prevention of HIV infection of all women and the protection of HIV
negative breastfeeding women from the risks of HIV infection.
The Ministers committed themselves to immediately step up efforts to
implement programmes in Member States aimed at promoting and
supporting voluntary counselling and testing as well as strengthening
the capacity of the health systems to effectively deliver these
services. This will also include improving the capacity together with
other sectors and communities to provide care and support for those
affected and infected and the growing number of children orphaned as a
result of AIDS. It is important to stress that these key programmes
would require enormous resources.
The Ministers were encouraged by and support the initiatives currently
underway aimed at finding a vaccine that would provide some protection
against HIV strains common in our Region. They stressed the need for
coordinated action by scientists in the speedy development of
effective and affordable vaccines.
The Ministers agreed to work together and share information on
legislative frameworks on blood safety as well as support the WHO
Collaboration Centre on Blood Transfusion Technology in Harare. The
centre should carry out periodic audits and quality assurance
programmes as part of ensuring the availability of safe blood and
blood products throughout the Region. The Ministers charged the drug
regulatory authorities in the Region to meet as a matter of urgency
and work on a framework for harmonization of drug regulation under the
auspices of SADC to be presented to the Ministers by April 2000.
The Health Ministers further remain concerned about the
unaffordability of drugs that would help improve the quality of life
of people with HIV/AIDS. In this regard Member States will work
together to ensure provision of affordable packages for the treatment
particularly of opportunistic infections. The measures to be
undertaken include bulk purchasing as well as continuing to explore
the appropriate use of other cost reducing interventions such as
parallel importing and compulsory licensing. In this regard the
Ministers agreed on the need for a joint meeting between the Ministers
of Health, Trade & Industry and Finance within SADC.
Furthermore they called upon WHO to forcefully advance public health
interests in all international fora especially the World Trade
Organization. Ministers expressed serious concerns about the
implication of the Trips Agreements on the availability and
affordability of pharmaceutical supplies in the Region. The Ministers
were concerned about the inequality between the various actors in the
provision of drugs in the Region, particularly with regard to the
excessive strength and influence of the international pharmaceutical
giants.
The Health Ministers invited other partners to work together to curb
the spread of this virus and counter the disastrous impact of this
epidemic which has become an emergency which requires both national
and regional actions.
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