Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2003. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2003. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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Reuters NewMedia - November 4, 2003
David Ljunggren
Activists say only a fraction of the 4.1 million people eligible for HIV /AIDS treatment in Africa can get the drugs they need.
They blame the high cost of the medicines and the unwillingness of multinational drug companies to subsidize use of their products in poor countries.
"On Thursday we will (present) significant legislation that is going to change Canada's patent laws -- including drug laws -- to permit Canadian generic companies (to exports AIDS drugs)," Industry Minister Allan Rock told reporters.
"That's a significant step because it demonstrates leadership on the part of Canada ... in having acted first to actually prepare, consult on and (present) legislation that will put our companies in a position to respond to the need in the developing world for these drugs."
Ottawa wants to push the legislation through Parliament as fast as possible but the main opposition party -- accusing the government of moving too quickly -- indicated it could block fast-track approval.
One source in the ruling Liberal Party said Ottawa also wanted to present the legislation during a visit by President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa, a country in which infection rates are extremely high. Mbeki is in Canada this week.
Treating HIV/AIDS patients in Africa with generic drugs averages about $250 per person a year, compared with a cost per person of between $8,000 and $15,000 for brand-name treatment in North America, officials said.
Rock would not give precise details of the legislation and said it was hard to predict when Parliament would give its final approval.
One major hurdle to progress could be the chaotic state of Canadian politics. Parliament is due to close next week to allow the election of a new leader of the ruling Liberal Party, and many expect the legislature to remain shut for several more weeks after that.
The opposition Canadian Alliance said it backed the idea of shipping low-cost AIDS drugs to Africa but was disappointed Ottawa had not answered its questions as to how the legislation would work.
"They've given us absolutely no idea as to what they're actually going to do here ... we can't do this by Friday," the Alliance's James Rajotte told reporters, saying he wanted a parliamentary committee to examine the legislation.
"How are we going to ensure that the drugs actually get to the people in Africa, how are we going to ensure there's a medical infrastructure in place (there) ... and how are we sure we're not breaking our own patent law?" he asked.
About 5,000 people die daily in sub-Saharan Africa from HIV/AIDS, and United Nations figures show the disease has killed 15 million people there in the last two decades.
Big pharmaceutical companies insist that the generic drugs must not be allowed to make their way back to North America and undercut their markets there.
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