  
South Africa takes steps to get cheaper AIDS drugs
Last Updated: 2001-05-02 12:57:37 EDT (Reuters Health)
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa has taken the first steps to accessing cheaper, generic AIDS drugs by signing a declaration of intent with India to foster cooperation on health issues.
The declaration, which was signed on Monday, follows the decision last month by global pharmaceutical manufacturers to withdraw a historic case against the South African government over its plans to import generic AIDS drugs, which they said violated patent rights.
"We have just emerged victorious from a long legal battle with multinational pharmaceutical companies which has held back our desire to explore options to access affordable medicines for more than 3 years," South African Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang said in a statement on Tuesday.
"We are now moving as fast as we can [to] establish partnerships that are necessary for us to access affordable medicine so that we can deal with the variety of diseases that continue to threaten the lives of our people in southern Africa," she said. The declaration with India was aimed at fostering cooperation on the registration and procurement of medicines and community-based HIV/AIDS programs, Tshabalala-Msimang said.
Indian firm Cipla has already applied to Pretoria to supply generic AIDS drugs at a fraction of the cost of patented drugs. Several of the 39 drug companies which brought the court case against South Africa have also offered Pretoria discounted prices on antiretrovirals. But these offers were rebuffed by the government, which said the drugs were still too expensive and that it lacked the infrastructure to monitor their use.
Tshabalala-Msimang said Pretoria would discuss with India the possibility of transferring technology and building the capacity to manufacture cheaper drugs in South Africa and the southern African region.
"We are studying with much interest the achievements that have been made by India in promoting local manufacturing of drugs and we will be considering the best option available for South Africa and the countries of the Southern African Development Community in accessing affordable medicines," she said.
Elsewhere, Burundi has struck a deal with Western pharmaceutical companies to ensure access to cheap AIDS drugs. Burundi, one of the poorest countries in the world and among the most affected by AIDS, is the seventh African country to join the UN-sponsored scheme, officials said on Tuesday.
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