[Ip-health] (HEALTHGAP): Namibian firm will produce AIDS drugs

[Mike Palmedo]

 From the Health GAP list...

> From: Delme Cupido <DCupido@lac.org.na>
> To: "PATAM (E-mail)" <africa@tac.org.za>
>
> Dear Colleagues,
>
> We have just received some very good news.  The Namibian government has
> announced that it plans to start producing generic ARV's.  This follows a
> meeting yesterday at which Stephen Lewis addressed cabinet at the
> invitation
> of the Minister of Health.  Together with the recent announcement that
> the
> roll out of MTCT will commence in the next few months, and the treatment
> guidelines drawn up by the Ministry, this announcement bodes well for the
> struggle to bring quality, affordable ARV's to all those who need it.
>
> These initiatives are the fruit of a long struggle, and there is no doubt
> that the support and activism of our allies across the continent has
> provided the impetus for these positive developments.  Credit must,
> however,
> also be given to the Namibian government and the Ministry of health for
> providing the kind of leadership that we all deserve.
>
> If, as we anticipate, these promises and commitments are fulfilled, it is
> our sincere hope that those governments who are dragging their feet
> will be
> further shamed into doing the right thing.
>
> Regards,
>
> Delme Cupido, Project Lawyer
> AIDS Law Unit
>
> Namibian firm will produce
> AIDS drugs, says Minister

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http://www.namibian.com.na/2003/june/national/03D7C6D117.html

Tuesday, June 10, 2003 - Web posted at 12:08:09 GMT

*Namibian firm will produce AIDS drugs, says Minister *

CHRISTOF MALETSKY

*THE Namibian Government has teamed up with a local company to produce
cheap AIDS drugs, Health Minister Dr Libertina Amathila announced
yesterday.*


Speaking during a discussion between visiting UN Special Envoy on AIDS
Stephen Lewis and a group of Ministers, Amathila said Cabinet last week
gave approval for an Ondangwa-based company to produce generic HIV-AIDS
drugs that will be affordable to Namibians infected and affected by the
disease.

She said Government will set money aside to invest in the production of
the drugs.

It is believed that the unnamed company, owned by a Namibian, has the
backing of the Cuban government.

Amathila was speaking after Lewis urged the 14 ministers and deputies to
look into Namibia's production of AIDS drugs.

"You can issue licences to private companies also.

Given your stage of advanced responsibilities, you will have a wider
market for your products," Lewis said.

He said drugs that cost around US$900 outside the African continent can
be purchased at around US$300 from countries like India but would even
be cheaper if produced locally.

He urged Namibia to "test the waters" at the Global Fund for HIV-AIDS,
TB and Malaria by applying for assistance to set up the manufacturing plant.

You might find to your amazement that you will get the funds from the
Fund," he said.

If the plant is set up, Namibia will follow the likes of Uganda and
South Africa in producing generic copies of drugs protected by
intellectual property rights in developed countries.

Lewis said Namibia must put in place a rigorous domestic manufacturing
licence system to avoid a sudden rush in licence applications.

Namibia and the southern African region spends millions of dollars on
importing anti-retroviral drugs to curb high death rates as a result of
HIV-AIDS.