Treatment Action Campaign
http://www.tac.org.za
CONGRESS OF SOUTH AFRICA TRADE UNIONS (COSATU)
http://www.cosatu.org.za/
Médecins Sans Frontières
http://www.accessmed-msf.org
Consumer Project on Technology
http://www.cptech.org
OXFAM Press Release
6 MARCH 2001
HIGH COURT ACCEPTS THE RIGHT OF PEOPLE WITH HIV TO BE HEARD
National and international organizations welcome the judge's decision.
Having been accepted as a 'Friend of the Court', TAC will give evidence about how brand name medicines are unaffordable for millions of people living with HIV in South Africa.
"For the first time, the pharmaceutical industry will have to justify to South Africa and to the world why their drug prices are so high and why their patents should be so aggressively protected, when millions of people are dying and cheaper drugs exist," said Zackie Achmat, chairperson of the Treatment Action Campaign.
This follows a week of worldwide demonstrations in support of the South African government, and calling on companies to drop the case. Thousands of people from unions, churches, NGOs and people living with HIV/AIDS took to the streets in Pretoria, Cape Town, and Durban. "We thank the efforts of our members whose voices have ensured that the courts have understood the importance of this matter," said Joyce Phekane, Deputy President of COSATU.
International and national organizations however condemned the pharmaceutical industry for first trying to block TAC's application, and for then requesting a further four months to reply to the application.
"The pharmaceutical companies have already delayed this case for three years. Every day's delay means no affordable medicines and more people dying," said Dr Eric Goemaere, Head of Mission for MSF's programs in South Africa.
The judge acknowledged that this case was of vital importance to people in South Africa and around the world and only granted industry three weeks to respond to TAC's application. The court case will resume from 18 to 26 April, 2001.
TAC, COSATU, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), Oxfam, and the Consumer Project on Technology underlined they would continue to support the South African government's position in this case.
For further information please call: -30-
http://www.oxfam.org/
TAC - Zackie Achmat: +27 83 467 11 52
COSATU - Siphiwe Ngcina +27 82 821 7456
MSF - Toby Kasper +27 82 332 9713
Oxfam - Matt Grainger +27 82 445 3005
Consumer Project on Technology - Jamie Love +1 202 361 3040.
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