[Ip-health] AHF letter to Rep. Sanders in support of the Medical Innovation Prize Fund Act

[Mike Palmedo]

July 25, 2005

The Honorable Bernard Sanders
US House of Representatives
2233 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Fax:  202-225-6790

RE:  Support for HR 417, the Medical Prize Innovation Act of 2005

Dear Representative Sanders:

AIDS Healthcare Foundation, that largest provider of specialized HIV
medical care in the nation, congratulates you on the introduction of HR
417, the Medical Prize Innovation Act of 2005, which would reward true
innovation in the research and development of prescription drugs, while
recognizing health as a human right and a public good.

Though advances in the field have transformed HIV and AIDS from a death
sentence to a chronic illness, heavy pill burden, resistant strains,
side effects and the lack of a cure illustrate that we have a long way
to go in overcoming this disease.  As a provider of HIV care for the
poor and medically indigent, we see our clients facing the additional
burden of limited resources as they attempt to manage this costly
condition.  Your proposal would facilitate needed pharmaceutical
research without compromising access to innovations by those who most
need them.

While health care costs continue to outpace the rate of inflation,
citizens are turning to its leaders to come up with new solutions to
facilitate access to the affordable quality health care they require.
HR417 inserts a new idea into an ongoing conversation that has tended to
place profit margins above a citizen's right to health.

Thank you for your leadership on this issue.  We look forward to working
with you on this and other issues affecting access to affordable health
care.

Sincerely,

Michael Weinstein
President