[Ip-health] 9th edition of Untangling the Web

[Celine DERCHE]

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Dear all,=0D
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At the bottom of this message you will find the link to the 9th (July=0D
2006) edition of Untangling the web of price reductions: a pricing guide=0D
for the purchase of ARVs for developing countries, released by Medecins=0D
Sans Frontieres Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines.=0D
This publication provides information about the prices and suppliers of=0D
antiretroviral drugs in developing countries.=0D
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Drug by drug, the report details the prices quoted by companies =E2=80=93 b=
oth=0D
originator and generic =E2=80=93 for  antiretrovirals, provides an analysis=
 of the=0D
evolution in these prices in the past few years, and focuses on the key=0D
issues on accessing quality products at affordable prices in developing=0D
countries.=0D
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In addition, the report provides information about where the particular=0D
price offers by pharmaceutical companies are valid, what type of treatment=
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provider is eligible for them as well as other conditions linked to the=0D
offers.=0D
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In the report, MSF analyses the limitations of price offers. The problems=
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fall into four categories:=0D
(1) that in the absence of competition from multiple producers, companies=
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may charge prohibitive prices,=0D
(2) that most originator companies establish a country premium, thereby=0D
excluding patients in some developing countries,=0D
(3) that even if companies announce discounted prices for their products=0D
in some eligible developing countries, the products are in fact not always=
=0D
available or affordable, and=0D
(4) that paediatric HIV/AIDS is neglected by most pharmaceutical=0D
companies.=0D
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The current differential pricing practice is insufficient and cannot be=0D
considered the sole solution to increasing access to ARVs worldwide, or to=
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all products that are needed. Making life-saving drugs available at=0D
affordable prices should not depend on the goodwill of private companies.=
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It is a government responsibility. Where the political will exists, people=
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pay less for their drugs and more people have access to them.=0D
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It is important to note that the information in this report only relates=0D
to the price of medicines: it does not include other costs linked to=0D
antiretroviral treatment, such as diagnostics and monitoring tools.=0D
The aim of this report is not to compare prices of ARVs from different=0D
companies or between countries. The methodology used is inadequate for=0D
that purpose.=0D
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But price should not be the only factor determining procurement decisions.=
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Not all the products listed in this report have been prequalified by WHO,=
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so readers and purchasers wishing to obtain more information about drug=0D
quality are encouraged to consult the "WHO prequalification project:=0D
Access to HIV/AIDS Drugs and Diagnostics of Acceptable Quality" (known as=
=0D
WHO prequalification list).=0D
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In any case, the prices listed in the report are not necessarily the same=
=0D
as the final prices paid by either patients or their health care=0D
providers. For example, in some countries, there are local add-ons such as=
=0D
import taxes and distribution mark-ups that are not included in the=0D
document.=0D
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A hard copy of the new edition of the Untangling will be available soon=0D
during the IAS AIDS conference in Toronto, and also as an annex of the 7th=
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edition of Sources and Prices of Selected Medicines and=0D
Diagnostics for people Living with HIV/AIDS (in preparation).=0D
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http://www.accessmed-msf.org/documents/untanglingtheweb%209.pdf=0D
=0D
=0D
Celine Derche=0D
MSF Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines=0D
Celine.DERCHE@paris.msf.org=0D
=0D
Fernando Pascual Martinez=0D
MSF Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines=0D
Fernando.PASCUAL@geneva.msf.org=0D
=0D
James Arkinstall=0D
MSF Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines=0D
James.ARKINSTALL@paris.msf.org=0D
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