|
We propose that the Malaysian Government find alternative methods to obtain cheaper anti-AIDS drugs to treat tens of thousands of HIV/AIDS sufferers in the country.
Statement by Dr Tan Seng Giaw, DAP National Vice-Chairman and MP for Kepong on expensive anti-retroviral drugs that sufferers cannot afford. 5.9.2001
Human Immune-deficiency Virus, HIV, infects people through sexual intercourse, intravenous injections among addicts and breast-feeding. Once infected, Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, AIDS, may take up to eight years to appear.
Although AIDS is incurable, international pharmaceutical companies research and develop expensive anti-AIDS drugs that reduce the death rate and make life more comfortable for sufferers. But, few people can afford these drugs.
Last year, AIDS killed 500,000 children and 2.5 million adults in the world; 600,000 children and 4.6 million adults became infected with HIV in the world. There is an estimate of 35 million HIV-carriers worldwide.
TRIPS
The international patent laws give a company 20-year patent rights on a drug it develops. In 1995, the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement under the World Trade Organization, WTO, confirmed these rights.
International pharmaceutical firms guard their patent rigths jealously. For example, when South Africa wanted to manufacture anti-AIDS drugs they developed recently, these firms took the country to court. Then, both sides had an out-of-court settlement.
If we abide by the patent laws, we can only buy expensive drugs. If we can convince the world that an epidemic is a national emergency, then we can invoke the 'health safeguards' under these laws. This is complicated.
CHEAPER DRUGS
Malaysia has tens of thousands of HIV/AIDS sufferers. We don't know the actual number. We do know that at least one-third of sufferers is unreported. There is an estimate that by 2003, we may have over 100,000 HIV/AIDS sufferers in the country. They cause socio-economic problems.
Our HIV/AIDS scourge may not be as big as that in South Africa or Brazil, still we need cheaper drugs to treat these patients. How do we get them?
Brazil supplies drugs free to sufferers, reducing AIDS deaths. Last month, she became the first country to invoke the 'health safeguards' clause under the international patent laws to produce a cheaper anti-AIDS drug.
We propose that the Malaysian Government review the methods of obtaining anti-AIDS drugs. If we find alternatives such as those adopted by Brazil, we can then provide cheaper drugs to our HIV/AIDS patients.
Dr Tan Seng Giaw | | |
