Possible US threat to AIDS drug access - HRW

The International rights group, Human Rights Watch (HRW), has expressed concern that the US could obstruct access to generic HIV/AIDS drugs in developing countries. The group said in a statement that the US would convene a conference in Botswana next week that may challenge the World Health Organisation's (WHO) approval of generic versions of patented anti-AIDS drugs. Joanne Csete, the director of HRW's HIV/AIDS Programme said although WHO had made enormous headway in verifying the quality of generic AIDS drugs for millions of low-income HIV-positive people, the US government could dash that hope to protect brand-name pharmaceutical interests. "The United States stands alone in opposing these safe, inexpensive and WHO-certified generic medicines. The Bush administration should dispel all accusations that it is protecting the interests of brand-name drug companies, and instead it should endorse and purchase these cheaper drugs, which would maximise the return on its investment in fighting AIDS," Csete said.