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Compiled by the Government Communication and Information System --------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 09 May 2007 Title: UNICEF commends initiative to reduce prices on AIDS treatment --------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------- By Nozipho Dlamini, tel: (012) 314-2214 The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has commended a new initiative by the UN-backed drug purchasing consortium and former United States President Bill Clinton's foundation for reducing the prices of 16 AIDS treatments in developing countries. This according to UNICEF will open the doors to improving children's access to much-needed medicines and will allow millions of children to receive treatment. Mr Clinton announced that the agreements with the generic drug manufacturers Cipla and Matrix will drastically reduce the prices of second-line antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) and a new, once daily pill that is currently prohibitively expensive in poorer countries. "Seven million people in the developing world are in need of treatment for HIV and AIDS," said Mr Clinton. He added that they were trying to meet the need with the best medicine available currently, and at prices that low and middle income countries could afford. The negotiations were conducted by the Clinton Foundation, including new prices for second-line drugs which will save poorer countries 25 percent and middle-income nations 50 percent. These drugs are used to treat patients who develop a resistance to first-line ones. These price reductions were made possible by UNITAID, an international drug purchasing facility launched by former Secretary-General Kofi Annan in 2006. It will provide the Clinton Foundation HIV and AIDS Initiative with over $100 million (approx R692 million) over 18 months to buy these second-line medications for 27 countries. Chairman of UNITAID's board and French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said every person living with HIV deserved access to most effective medicines. "UNITAID aims to ensure that these are affordable for all developing countries," he said. UNITAID is funded by 34 countries and relies on innovative mechanisms to raise money including a levy on airline tickets. This year, it will provide $300 million (approx R2, 076 million), and financing is expected to exceed $500 million (approx R3, 460 million) in 2009. Mr Clinton also announced that the cost of a first-line medicine, a once daily pill made available in the US in 2006 which is now considered the gold-standard treatment, combines the drugs tenofovir, lamivudine and efavirenz. The new cost per patient per year of $339 (approx R2, 346) - less than $1 (approx R7) per day marks a 45 percent decrease from current prices in developing countries and a 67 percent reduction in middle income ones. In addition, during the 24th Africa-France Summit in Cannes this year, 18 African countries as well as South Africa joined UNITAID by signing a political declaration and a legal document. These states pledged to implement innovative development financing mechanisms, primarily in the form of solidarity contributions on airline tickets, all or part of the proceeds of which are to be allocated to UNITAID. The African countries joining UNITAID are continuing their involvement in the fight against the three deadliest pandemics- AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis which continue to ravage the continent. In taking this decision, they become not only beneficiaries of lower drug prices and receive supplies of quality treatments, but also donors and full players, reflecting the partnership aspect of the initiative. - BuaNews |
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