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Concern over policy for AIDS drugs

    JOHANNESBURG
    Uganda's Coalition for Health Promotion and Social Development (HEPS) on Thursday expressed concern over the government's new draft policy on HIV/AIDS drugs. The policy formulated by the ministry of health, with money from the Global AIDS Fund, is expected to make antiretrovirals available to half of the country's people living with HIV/AIDS by 2005. Dr Elizabeth Madra, a health ministry official, told the UN news service PlusNews: "Ministers were not always in favour of buying these expensive drugs but, with this Global Fund cash, alongside a further World Bank US $3 million, it looks like we now might have the money to do it, if we plan carefully." However, the HEPS coordinator, Rosette Mutambi, said she was doubtful that the government would meet its target if it stuck to the branded HIV/AIDS drugs of big manufacturers. "In the meantime people are dying. What we want is a clear commitment to buy affordable generic drugs, not dithering while we wait for money to buy these expensive brands," Mutambi added.

    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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