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CONTACT:

Geneva: Gaelle Krikorin or Asia Russell +33 609 177 055

New York City: Sharonann Lynch 212-674-9598

Public health advocates call for transparency on global medicine pricing information

(Geneva) 17th May 2000. At the 53rd World Health Assembly in Geneva, The U.S. delegation, led by Dr. Tom Novotny, is up to all its old tricks-- mobilizing opposition in the face of even the slightest positive movement by member states of the World Health Organization to treat people living with HIV/AIDS and other opportunistic infections..

Brazil and other delegations have put forth several important amendments to the WHO HIV/AIDS resolution. Brazil's amendment would be a first step towards giving poor countries tools in order to gain access to affordable AIDS medication: it charges the World Health Organization with constructing a database of drug prices, so countries could easily determine the most accessible version of a medicine.

Information on quality generic and patented drug prices enables countries to rationalize their purchasing policy. Developing countries could use this tool to maintain control over their public health policies.It is clear around the world that where generic competition exists, prices of medicines are considerably lower. However, there continue to be regulatory and legal barriers to purchasing and importing medicines. These need to be resolved.

Last week an Executive Order was issued by President Clinton easing U.S. pressure campaigns against African nations using WTO-legal means to provide generic versions of life saving patented medications. "At the WHA. bullying tactics of the U.S. delegates are morally reprehensible and hypocritical in light of the Clinton administration grandstanding about access to treatment," said Abdul Akim of Act Up Philadelphia, "and contradict the spirit of the Executive Order."

The U.S. delegation is in opposition to this amendment. Led by Dr. Tom Novotny, they are acting against countries having access to pricing information.

"The U.S. government is again acting as pharmaceutical industry's puppet. The industry is afraid once data is widely accessible that illustrates the dramatic differences in prices in nations that have strong generic production, their murderous fiction regarding the necessity of high prices will go up in smoke," said Asia Russell of Act Up Philadelphia.

Affected countries in Africa were not included in the preparation discussions of the price reduction and public/private partnership. Affected countries around the world must be included in the process to find long term sustainable solutions.

"There is a lot of pressure on the countries hand selected by the U.S. delegation to capitulate to U.S. opposition. This process is completely non-transparent, and completely preferential," said Paul Davis of Act Up Philadelphia.

Many countries have expressed strong support for this amendment, because they know a pricing database would enable purchase of greater quantities of affordable life-saving medicines to ensure that treatment options are not restricted to limited conditional price reductions which are dependent on corporate generosity.

Last week's statement of intent between UNAIDS and several multi-national pharmaceutical companies camouflages the real issue that long term sustainable solutions are needed on an international level. This agreement does not encourage transfer of technology, nor does it stimulate countries' rights to produce or import inexpensive quality drugs, an important part of the long-term solution to improving access to medicines.

For information at the WHA please call:

HEALTH ACTION INTERNATIONAL (HAI) Lisa Hayes +316 24 22 5847

MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES (MSF) Samantha Bolton + 32 496 250 064