Bush Protection of Big Pharma Under Growing Attack at Bangkok AIDS Confere

[GreenPartyVoter]

WASHINGTON - Bolstered by a critical new report by the investigative arm of the U.S. Congress, AIDS and public-health activists attending this week's 15th International AIDS Conference in Bangkok are redoubling their fire against efforts by the Bush administration to protect the interests of major U.S. pharmaceutical companies.
The focus of their concern is Washington's continued refusal to permit U.S. aid money to be used to buy life-preserving generic anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs manufactured in developing countries, such as India, Thailand, and Brazil that are much cheaper than brand-name drugs produced by "Big Pharma," as the major western drug companies are known.

They also oppose the Bush administration's demand in recent negotiations for new trade agreements with poor countries, including Thailand and the countries of Central America, which they agree not to produce or import generic versions of new drugs developed by U.S. drug manufacturers for at least five years from the date that they first come to market.

The combined result, according to the activists, risks putting out of reach generic substitutes that could save the lives of millions of needy poor people who cannot afford the brand-name drugs. "Blocking the purchase of cheap drugs for those in need and forcing trade agreements that hinder poor countries' ability to respond to the AIDS crisis are key obstacles to an effective global response to the AIDS crisis," said Salih Booker, director of the Washington-based Africa Action, a grassroots advocacy group.

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0715-02.htm

[Warpy]

1. It should be under attack here, as well

Since the big drug companies are jacking up even the prices of generic drugs that have been around for years and years, not because of any increase in the cost of producing or delivering these drugs, but due to pure greed and the need to pour more and more money into bribes to key Repuglicans.

Just when the HELL is this country going to get serious over the blatant bribery of its elected and unelected officials?

[GreenPartyVoter]

2. It'll get over it when we decide we won't take their crap any more.