[india-drug] "3x5" AIDS Initiative Imperiled By Low Funding

[owner-india-drug@healthnet.org]

>From U.N. Wire
Monday, March 15, 2004 

"3x5" AIDS Initiative Imperiled By Low Funding, U.N. Says 

The U.N. initiative to provide anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs) to 3 
million AIDS sufferers in developing countries by 2005 is facing
funding 
shortfalls that could put it out of operation, U.N. and World Health 
Organization officials have said.

Just $2.3 billion has been secured out of the $5.5 billion needed, with

only the United Kingdom, Sweden and Spain having contributed to date.

"If <http://www.who.int/3by5/en/>3 x 5 fails, as it surely will without

the dollars, then there are no excuses left, no rationalizations to 
hide behind.  There will only be the mass graves of the betrayed," said

Stephen Lewis, the U.N. secretary general's special envoy for HIV/AIDS
in 
Africa.

The 
<http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,1169196,00.html>London

<http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,1169196,00.html>Observer

reports that some countries, particularly the United States, are 
reluctant to fund the project in part because of its reliance on
fixed-dose 
combination of ARVs, which infringe on patent law in some wealthier 
nations.  

The United States has said it questions the safety of the combination 
drugs, but AIDS activists argue that the U.S. stance has been shaped by

resistance from pharmaceutical companies, which disapprove of the drugs

because they are made from ingredients discovered by the companies and 
under patent. 

"The U.S.'s position is to buy drugs only approved by the (Federal Drug

Administration)," said Ellen 'T Hoen of <http://www.msf.org/>Medecins 
sans Frontieres.  "The fixed dose can't be approved by the FDA because 
of patent problems, not because of their safety and efficacy." 

The United States is sponsoring a two-day conference later this month 
in Botswana to discuss the principles of regulation of the ARV 
combination drugs (Alison Langley, London Observer, March 14).

In other news, Zimbabwe is set to launch ARV treatment this month at 
five pilot centers, with 260,000 HIV sufferers expected to benefit by
the 
end of next year, 
<http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=39969&SelectRegion=Southern_Africa&SelectCountry=ZIMBABWE>Integrated

Regional Information Networks reports.  WHO is providing technical 
support for the project, which is estimated to cost less than $25 per
month 
because of partnerships with local manufacturers (IRIN, March 10).

Meanwhile, activists in nearby Swaziland, which introduced ARVs last 
year after significant international pressure, warn that distribution
is 
haphazard and patients are not given enough guidance in their treatment

programs, 
<http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=39885&SelectRegion=Southern_Africa&SelectCountry=SWAZILAND>IRIN

reports.

"There are pharmacies in Mbabane that sell ARVs to anyone coming off 
the street," said Siphiwe Hlope, co-director of the AIDS support group 
Swazis for Positive Living.  "They do not dispense instructions,
because 
the queue of people wishing to buy (the drugs) is so long."

"We concur with the government's policy to permit ARVs, but a law 
regulating their distribution is needed  anyone can sell ARVs.  Taxi 
drivers going to clinics to pick up ARVs for people get an extra
supply, and 
they sell them to passengers," Hlope added.

Activists also worry that patients are starting and then stopping 
treatment, risking treatment resistance.

"People are not told to expect side effects.  When they become 
nauseous, dizzy and develop flu-like symptoms, which is to be expected
with 
ARVs, they tell us they stop taking the pills because they think they
are 
poisoning them," said one health worker.

The Health Ministry has said it will prepare a statement to address 
improper distribution.

According to U.N. figures, 38.6 percent of adults in Swaziland are 
infected with HIV.  The National Emergency Response Committee on
HIV/AIDS 
says half of all Swazis in their twenties have the virus (IRIN, March 
5).

Dr. Leela McCullough
Director of Information Services

SATELLIFE
30 California Street, Watertown, MA 02472, USA
Tel: +617-926-9400    Fax: +617-926-1212
Email: leela@usa.healthnet.org
Web: http://www.healthnet.org


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