[e-farmacos] Satellife en la lucha contra el VIH

["Silva,Arlene" <arlene@usa.healthnet.org>]

E-farmacos:Satellife en la lucha contra el VIH
------------------------------------------------------

[Este mensaje fue enviado por Arlene E. Silva de
Satellife a todas las listas de discusion, por lo que
excepcionalmente el texto esta en lengua inglesa, AF.]
 
A Landmark Event in the Fight Against AIDS and
SATELLIFE's Pledge to Help

A three year law suit was unconditionally withdrawn in
South Africa by 39 international drug companies
earlier today.  In addition to reimbursing the 
South African government's legal fees, this reversal
will allow the government to implement a 1997 law that
grants the use of generic drugs.  As a result, the
South African government is now free to import 
less-costly generic drugs for the 4.7 million South
Africans infected with HIV.

"For instance, drug company Pfizer was selling
fluconazole, an essential drug used to treat certain
HIV/AIDS-related infections, for about R29 to 
[the] government while generics could be bought for
R2" (BusinessDay on-line, 4/19/01, quoting Sapa, I-Net
Bridge).

However, some have expressed concern over the
widespread accessibility to these life-prolonging
drugs.  "South Africa, like many of its neighbours, 
still lacks the infrastructure to use these
complicated drugs effectively.  Doctors require
specialist training; systems for regularly 
monitoring patients who are on medication need to be
put in place and drug supplies must be guaranteed"
(BBC News on-line, 4/19/01).

Despite these concerns, this is a great victory for
South Africa and AIDS patients throughout the world. 
"Now nothing should stand in the way of 
countries who want to ensure long-term access to
affordable medicines," said Ellen 't Hoen, Doctors
Without Borders/MSF legal advisor (MSF-USA 
on-line, 4/19/01).

SATELLIFE, through its publications such as HealthNet
News and HealthNet News-AIDS, pledges to bring health
workers in Africa the information that they need to
effectively use these treatment options. Likewise, 
through vehicles such as AFRO-NETS, E-Drug, and
ProCAARE, we can facilitate the development of a
shared knowledge base responding to the need for 
information about effective delivery and monitoring
systems.

-The SATELLIFE Staff

--------------------------------------------------
Arlene E. Silva
Research Assistant
SATELLIFE
30 California Street
Watertown, MA 02472 USA
Telephone: +617.926.9400
Fax: +617.926.1212
Email: arlene@usa.healthnet.org
http://www.healthnet.org












































__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Auctions - buy the things you want at great prices
http://auctions.yahoo.com/
-
Envíe el correo para la conferencia de `e-farmacos' a:
e-farmacos@usa.healthnet.org
Envíe las peticiones administrativas a:
majordomo@usa.healthnet.org
Para la ayuda adicional, envíe el correo a:
owner-e-farmacos@usa.healthnet.org