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N e w s - F u l l S t o r y :
Drug companies fight South African government over law WebPosted Mon Mar 5 13:11:22 2001 PRETORIA-- The South African government
faces off in court against 42 drug companies for a law it hopes will help fight
the HIV-AIDS epidemic.
The companies are challenging the Medicines Act, which allows the minister of
health to override patent rights to provide cheaper medicines. The law also
encourages the use of generic equivalents.
"It appears to give the minister of health unfettered discretion to
simply abrogate any one or all of our patents," said Marryena Deeb, chief
executive of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association.
The act applies to all drugs, but the AIDS epidemic is of particular concern
to the government.
Dr Ayanda Ntsaluba, the director general of the Department of Health, says
the government needs much lower drug prices to tackle the epidemic effectively.
"What the South African government has been talking about is to get
sustainable prices so that we can be able to provide through the public health
system," he said.
South Africa has come under fire from many quarters for failing to act
decisively against HIV-AIDS. President Thabo Mbeki has been pilloried in the
past for suggesting HIV may not cause AIDS.
But this time, AIDS activists are on the government's side. Trade unions and
non-government organizations have organized demonstrations in support of the
government for this week's hearing at the Pretoria High Court.
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PLEASE NOTE: These pages are always going to be under review and revision. They have been assembled for the use of students in Gen024, Medical Ethics. The course is offered at St. Lawrence College, Kingston, Canada. For further information on this course or to report problems with this page, please contact [email protected]
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