E-DRUG: UN backs use of cheap generic anti-AIDS drugs
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[crossposted from AFRO-NETS with thanks; copied as fair use. NN]
Peter Capella in Geneva and James Meikle
Guardian
Wednesday February 21, 2001
The UN is preparing to challenge the multinational drug companies'
control over HIV and Aids treatments in developing countries by en-
couraging a far wider use of cheaper, generic alternatives.
The organisation, frustrated by slow progress in brokering discounts
between pharmaceutical giants and countries threatened by social and
economic chaos because of Aids, is ready to back states such as Bra-
zil, Thailand and India where national laws allow them to override
drug patents in cases of dire emergency.
The new gloves-off approach, outlined by the UN's secretary general,
Kofi Annan, is likely to be widely welcomed by aid agencies. It comes
as 42 drug companies begin a court case to stop South Africa import-
ing generic versions of the life-enhancing drugs it so desperately
needs. The United States is meanwhile preparing to challenge Brazil's
attitude towards drug patents in the World Trade Organisation.
Mr Annan, in his report to the general assembly's special session on
HIV and Aids in New York in June, says that the "equitable and af-
fordable" provision of life saving treatments is a cornerstone of the
worldwide battle against Aids.
Although some progress has been made in price reductions by big com-
panies, the UN chief says more needs to be done through other meas-
ures such as "tiered" pricing between rich and poor countries, subsi-
dies by the public and private sector, and "the effective use of
health safeguards in trade agreements".
Governments must bring their "power and authority" to bear in fight-
ing the "most formidable development challenge of our time", he says.
Mr Annan praises Brazil, where reported Aids deaths have been reduced
by a quarter. "With a rights-based approach to care, together with
local production of generic anti-retrovirals in some countries, cov-
erage of patients is increasing in Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Uru-
guay, where HIV-positive people are living longer, positive lives."
His report makes a stark case for affordable treatment and care. In
many African states, more than half today's 15-year-olds will die
from HIV/Aids if present rates of infection continue. Only
adults who escape HIV infection can expect to survive to middle and
old age.
UNAids, the agency set up to combat the disease, says it supports Ox-
fam and Medecins sans Frontieres, which have been highly critical of
drug companies' pricing policies.
A UNAids initiative to improve access to drugs and care attracted 29
applications involving generic products but the emphasis until re-
cently appeared to concentrate on brokering discounts with five major
pharmaceutical companies. The discounts have only been taken up in
Rwanda, Senegal and Uganda.
UNAids insists it is sticking by a multiple approach to tackling epi-
demics, but its call for the "reinforcement and use" of health safe-
guards indicates a big change of gear.
Source:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,4139390,00.html
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* New HIV strain appears in South Korea, 5-Feb-2001, SABC News
http://www.sabcnews.com/SABCnews/Article/print_whole_story/0,1093,10713,00.html
* Botswana struggles to cope with AIDS victims, 7-Feb-2001, SABC News
http://www.sabcnews.com/SABCnews/Article/print_whole_story/0,1093,10814,00.html
* Drug companies stalling on cheap Aids drugs, 14-Feb-2001, SABC News
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* The profits that kill, 12-Feb-2001, The Guardian
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http://www.guardian.co.uk/Print/0,3858,4134701,00.html
* South African Deputy President Jacob Zuma launches the first post
graduate diploma in the management of HIV/Aids, 17-Feb-2001, SABC News
http://www.sabcnews.com/SABCnews/Article/print_whole_story/0,1093,11204,00.html
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