TAC

Treatment Action Campaign

13 July 2000 3 PM

For Immediate Release

On Sunday 9 July 2000, the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) led an historic march to demand access to HIV/AIDS treatment. More than 5 000 people joined the march, representing organisations with millions of members worldwide. We are satisfied that we have now built a foundation nationally and internationally to step up campaigns targetted at drug company pricing policies and government inaction.

The memorandum that was handed to Minister of Health Dr. Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, Dr. Peter Piot, Professor Jerry Coovadia and Dr. Stephano Vella set out a series of proposals and demands. We requested an initial response to these demands at the close of the conference tomorrow. We also made clear our intention to mobilise the largest ever international demonstration against AIDS profiteering and negligence on Decemeber 10 2000. We reaffirm our commitment to this action.

In the meatime TAC will:

1. Immediately commence legal proceeding to compel the South African government to act on the findings presented to it more than three weeks ago and revealed publicly at this conference on the efficacy of nevirapine and AZT in the reduction of mother-to-child-transmission.

2. Commence legal action to ovtain a compulsory license against Pfizer. We ask all international allies to boycott non-medically essential Pfizer products.

3. Prepare for a Defiance Campaign against drug companies by importing good quality generic medications including fluconazole and ensuring that they are available to health facilities for appropriate use.

TAC will launch a national Treatment Action Countil in September 2000 that will build on the broad base of support that already exists for our demands and ensure that they are enforced at every level of society.

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