[Pharm-policy] Tshabalala-Msimang on CIPLA offer

[love@cptech.org]

Fairly cold response to the CIPLA offer from the SA Minister of Health.
Jamie

http://www.iol.co.za/html/frame_news.php?click_id=125&art_id=qw981655741222B243

Cheap medicine won't solve AIDS crisis
February 08 2001 at 08:09PM
 
The problem of access to HIV and Aids-related treatment will not be
adequately addressed by simply cutting the prices of anti-retroviral
drugs, Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang said on Thursday. 

"Care for HIV/Aids-related infections should be addressed in a holistic
way including treatment for opportunistic infections and any agreement
in this regard should cover issues of sustainability, accessibility as
well as affordability," she said in a statement. 

Tshabalala-Msimang was commenting on an announcement by Indian drug
company Cipla Ltd to offer triple-therapy cocktails to government at
$600 (about R4,7-million) per patient per year. 

The normal cost of the cocktail on the international market is between
$10 000 and $15 000 per year. 

"Provision of care for HIV/Aids-related conditions must consider other
critical elements such as health infrastructure, laboratory support and
other requirements for close monitoring of patients that would ensure
the drugs are safely and effectively administered," the minister said. 

Tshabalala-Msimang said the Medicines Substances Control Amendment Act
had been legislated to address the problem of access to affordable
treatment for HIV and Aids and curable diseases. - Sapa