[Pharm-policy] No Relief For Locals From Cut In AIDS Drugs Prices

[James Love]

Subject: No Relief For Locals From Cut In AIDS Drugs Prices
     Date: Wed, 9 Aug 2000 13:28:41 -0400 (EDT)
    From: richard@atdn.org (Richard Jefferys)
      To:  Multiple recipients of list <healthgap@CritPath.Org>


"Murphy said Roche, which produces anti-AIDS drugs available locally
such
as Hivid and Viracept, had been forced to destroy huge quantities of the
drugs it donated to some countries because there were inadequate
distribution systems in place."

- it'd be great to see some documentary support for this claim. If Roche
donated Viracept to anybody without an accompanying press release
portraying themselves as saviors of mankind, it would be surprising
indeed.

http://www.africanews.org/health/stories/20000808/20000808_feat6.html

No Relief For Locals From Cut In AIDS Drugs Prices

All Africa News Agency August 8, 2000 By Tim Chigodo In Harare

Harare - Zimbabwe AIDS sufferers will continue to pay higher prices for
life-saving drugs such as Combivir for another six months despite the
world-wide reduction of their prices nearly two months ago.

Five of the major international AIDS drug manufacturers, including the
giant British-based GlaxoWellcome - the makers of Combivir widely used
in
combination therapy in Zimbabwe - announced recently that they would
slash
prices of these drugs to Africa by 80 percent.

Their announcement was a reaction to US President Bill Clinton's
directive
recently that he would waive the prosecution of any manufacturer who
infringed American patent laws by making generic versions of AIDS drugs
for
African countries.

Some countries in Africa and Asia such as South Africa and Thailand have
over the years been lobbying for the generic manufacture of drugs such
as
AZT and Combivir to force down prices in poor countries hard hit by the
scourge.

Prices of the vital drugs were actually just about to go up from about
Zim
$11,000 ( about Zim $ 44 to the US dollar) a month to $14,000 when the
international manufacturers announced the reductions.

Combivir sells locally at about $11,000 for a month's prescription. The
price reduction by Glaxo, if effected in Zimbabwe, would have meant that
the drug would cost about $3,000 for the same monthly prescription.

Jonah Mangiza, the chief executive of Geddes - one of the main suppliers
of
Combivir in Zimbabwe - said although the price reductions had been
announced internationally nearly two months ago, local distributors such
as
his company were still buying them at the old prices.

Mangiza said Geddes was not even putting any mark-ups on these as a
"social
responsibility" and only charged a small handling fee.

Vincent Murphy, general manager of Roche Zimbabwe, another supplier of
the
AIDS drugs, said there were a lot of issues that needed to be addressed
before the drugs could be cheaply available in Zimbabwe.

"It's not enough to simply donate drugs," Murphy said. He said effective
treatment required, among others, infrastructure and a logistical chain
that assured continuity of supply and healthcare training to guarantee
appropriate use and testing to monitor use.

Patient education and support was needed to promote adequate compliance
with therapy to prevent drug resistance. It was also necessary that a
political and social environment committed to addressing HIV and
supporting
those infected be put in place.

Most of the drugs now used to treat AIDS and related illnesses call for
a
strict diet and living regime which includes constant monitoring and
testing. Zimbabwe, like many other African countries heavily affected by
AIDS, does not have adequate testing centres.

Murphy said Roche, which produces anti-AIDS drugs available locally such
as
Hivid and Viracept, had been forced to destroy huge quantities of the
drugs
it donated to some countries because there were inadequate distribution
systems in place.

He would not say when his company's products would be sold cheaper in
Zimbabwe but that discussions were underway with the United Nations, the
World Health Organisation WHO and African governments.



AIDS Treatment Data Network
611 Broadway, Suite #613
New York, NY 10012
Tel: (800) 734-7104
Fax: (212) 260-8869
E-mail: network@atdn.org
Internet: aidsinfonyc.org/network



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