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 Access to life-saving medicines (including AIDS medicines): 1993 to June 2001  

See also other materials on "Access to life-saving medicines"

HIV/AIDS: Countries Call For Global Action As Special [United Nations] Session Closes (UN Wire, 28 June 2001)

HIV/AIDS: Epidemic May Lead To 40% GNP Drop In Some States (UN Wire, 28 June 2001)

US-Islamic alliance hits Aids hopes: Islamic governments, with the connivance of the conservative Bush administration, succeeded in watering down the final declaration of commitment to strategies and targets to beat the global Aids pandemic at the UN yesterday by excluding any reference to gay men. (Sarah Boseley, Guardian [UK], 28 June 2001) 

The impact of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights on human rights: Report of the High Commissioner (report prepared for United Nations Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, 27 June 2001)

New index highlights worldwide corruption crisis, says Transparency International: The Corruption Perceptions Index 2001 ranks 91 countries. "There is no end in sight to the misuse of power by those in public office - and corruption levels are perceived to be as high as ever in both the developed and developing worlds," said Peter Eigen, Chairman of Transparency International, speaking today on the launch of the Corruption Perceptions Index 2001. "The new Index illustrates once more the vicious circle of poverty and corruption, where parents have to bribe underpaid teachers to secure an education for their children and underresourced health services provide a breeding ground for corruption. The world's poorest are the greatest victims of corruption," said Peter Eigen at a press conference in Paris. "Vast amounts of public funds are being wasted and stolen by corrupt officials," he continued. TI's chairman said: "HIV AIDS is killing millions of Africans, and in many of the countries where AIDS is at its deadliest the problem is compounded by the fact that corruption levels are seen to be very high. While it is imperative that richer countries provide the fruits of medical research at an affordable price to address this human tragedy, it is also essential that corrupt governments do not steal from their own people. This is now an urgent priority if lives are to be saved." While the CPI scores of most leading industrial countries are quite high, the CPI focuses on corruption involving public officials. It does not reflect secret payments to finance political campaigns, the complicity of banks in money laundering or bribery by multinational companies. Speaking in Washington DC, TI Vice Chairman Frank Vogl noted: "Corruption in the most prosperous countries in the world has many manifestations, and Transparency International is increasing its efforts to stimulate actions to secure greater transparency in politics, business and banking. We aim to publish a new Bribe Payers Index in early 2002 to shine the spotlight on the propensity of western firms to use bribes in emerging market economies." (Transparency International, 27 June 2001) 

African Groups Disappointed by UN AIDS Declaration: African civil society groups packed their bags Wednesday to return home distressed that commitments made at this week's UN General Assembly Special Session on HIV- AIDS would amount to mere rhetoric. (Lewis Machipisa, Inter Press Service, 27 June 2001)

United Nations special meeting on HIV/AIDS - another missed opportunity (Christian Aid, 26 June 2001)

No Quick Fix: a sustained response to HIV/AIDS and children (Save the Children UK, 25 June 2001)

What Should Africa Expect From UN AIDS Summit? (Ofeibea Quist-Arcton, allAfrica.com, 25 June 2001)

Aid and AIDS: time for serious action: It is double or quits time for the world's richest nations. Either they must dramatically increase the amount of aid to poor countries or they must end the ceaseless rhetoric about their efforts to tackle poverty. (Mark Curtis, Head of Policy, Christian Aid, 25 June 2001) 

Africans Assail Meagre Response to HIV-AIDS: African leaders used the opening of the UN General Assembly Special Session on HIV-AIDS Monday to assail the international community's response to the deadly epidemic for failing to match the speed and seriousness with which the disease is infecting their citizens. (Lewis Machipisa, Inter Press Service, 25 June 2001)

Latest victory in battle for cheap drugs as the US withdraws action against Brazil (Oxfam GB, 25 June 2001)

Code of Practice on HIV/AIDS and the World of Work (International Labour Organization, 22 June 2001) {···english···español···français}

HIV/AIDS III: Former US Ambassador To UN [Richard Holbrooke] Leads Business Efforts [Global Business Council on HIV & AIDS] (UN Wire, 21 June 2001)

Patents vs Public Health issue won’t go away (Chakravarthi Raghavan, South-North Development Monitor [SUNS], 21 June 2001)

Developing World Demands Clear Rules on Access to Drugs: A large group of developing countries demands that the World Trade Organisation (WTO), at its next ministerial conference, must clear up all the legal uncertainties that stand in the way of countries' rights to protect the health of their populations. (Gustavo Capdevila, Inter Press Service, 20 June 2001) 

Coca-Cola, UNAIDS Form Partnership For Africa (UN Wire, 20 June 2001)

Coke joins AIDS fight in Africa: Marketing giant will help U.N. deliver information, treatment (Don Melvin, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 20 June 2001)

WTO asked to ensure TRIPS doesn’t undermine public health: The forthcoming Doha Ministerial Conference of the WTO should take actions to ensure that the TRIPS Agreement does not in any way undermine the legitimate right of WTO members to formulate their own public health policies and implement them by adopting measures to protect public health, a group of 46 developing countries from - Africa, Asia. Latin America and the Caribbean regions - have demanded in a paper to the Council for TRIPS, at its Special Discussion on TRIPS and Public Health. (Chakravarthi Raghavan, South-North Development Monitor [SUNS], 20 June 2001)

Daimler Provides AIDS Help To Employees in South Africa: German-American car maker DaimlerChrysler AG's South African subsidiary has launched perhaps the country's most far-reaching corporate program to manage AIDS among employees and dependents, including providing free antiretroviral drugs to infected workers and their families. (Robert Block, Wall Street Journal, 19 June 2001)

'Patents and Medicines: The WTO Must Act Now!': Joint NGO Statement on Patents and Medicines (19 June 2001)

UNDP Urges Businesses To Help Fight AIDS (UN Wire, 18 June 2001)

Intellectual property rights and human rights: Report of the Secretary-General (United Nations Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, 14 June 2001)

Landmark victory for patient rights over patent protection [Kenya] (Médecins Sans Frontières/Kenya Coalition on Access to Essential Medicines, 14 June 2001)

Finally, WTO to Open Debate on Patents and Low-Cost Drugs: The much-awaited debate on how international patent laws affect developing countries' access to medications begins Wednesday, Jun 20, at the World Trade Organisation (WTO), and the countries, corporations and civil society groups involved are putting the final touches on their arguments. (Gustavo Capdevila, Inter Press Service, 14 June 2001) 

HIV/AIDS II: IAVI [International AIDS Vaccine Initiative] Aims To Overcome Drug Makers' Wariness (UN Wire, 12 June 2001)

Can This Man Find an AIDS Vaccine?  A vaccine is our last, best hope of stopping the epidemic. Seth Berkley is trying to deliver the dream. If Seth Berkley finds a vaccine, he hopes to guarantee instant worldwide access to it. (Geoffrey Cowley, Newsweek, 11 June 2001)

Pharmaceuticals rights under threat: DRUG PATENTS: International agreements allowing access to patented medicines have faced their first test (Stephen Ward, Financial Times, 11 June 2001)

GlaxoSmithKline reaffirms commitment to fight diseases of the developing world (GlaxoSmithKline, 11 June 2001)

Glaxo To Cut Prices For AIDS, Malaria Drugs (UN Wire, 11 June 2001)

First Corporate Pledge Made to Global AIDS Fund [by Winterthur, the Swiss-based insurance subsidiary of Credit Suisse] (Karen DeYoung, Washington Post, 8 June 2001)

INFECTIOUS DISEASES: Swiss Company [Winterthur, the Swiss-based insurance subsidiary of Credit Suisse] To Give $1 Million To Fund [to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's global infectious diseases fund] (UN Wire, 8 June 2001)

WTO Patent Rules and Access to Medicines: The Pressure Mounts (Oxfam GB, 7 June 2001)

Pfizer to offer Diflucan antifungal medicine at no charge to HIV/AIDS patients in 50 least developed countries around the world: Program to Expand on South African Partnership Model in Cooperation With United Nations' AIDS Program and World Health Organization (Pfizer, 6 June 2001)

Aids plays havoc with Africa's children: The UN chief has challenged world leaders to act on youth poverty (Victoria Brittain, Guardian [UK], 6 June 2001)

Pfizer Expands Free Drug Program [expanding its free distribution of an AIDS drug in least developed countries] (Associated Press, 6 June 2001)

Tear up the envelope! [expressing concern that poorest countries will not get adequate debt cancellation] (Adrian Lovett, Director and Senior Partner, Drop the Debt, 4 June 2001)

Pricing to a human scale: Despite price cuts by some of the world's biggest pharmaceutical companies, a full course of Aids medication in Africa still costs at least $1,000 per person per year. And while the price cuts set a precedent for reducing medication costs, there is no sound principle behind such actions. The real question, therefore, is whether these actions are merely the outcome of a public relations ploy? (Stephan Richter, Bangkok Post, 2 June 2001)

Commissioners Press Pharmaceutical Industry to Deliver on Low Cost Medicines: The European Union this week urged the pharmaceutical industry to adopt a pricing mechanism that would ensure poor countries could buy essential medicines at the lowest possible price. (EuropaWorld, 1 June 2001)

Kofi Annan's Remarks To The US Chamber of Commerce: United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan today called on American business to join the global fight agains AIDS. Below is the text of Mr. Annan's address. (United Nations, in allAfrica.com, 1 June 2001)

TRIPS, Patents and Access to Medicines: Proposals for Clarification and Reform (Third World Network, June 2001)

Ministers [UK Chancellor and international development secretary] call for cut in price of third world drugs (Michael White and Larry Elliott, Guardian [UK], 31 May 2001)

HIV/AIDS: UNAIDS Head Looks More To Prevention Than Drugs (UN Wire, 29 May 2001)

South African hospitals are ill-equipped to deal with crisis [AIDS crisis] (Charlene Smith, Daily Mail & Guardian [South Africa], 29 May 2001)

HIV/AIDS: UN Agencies To Fight Disease Among Women, Girls (UN Wire, 25 May 2001)

HIV/AIDS III: Drug Maker [GlaxoSmithKline] Pledges Price Cut As Kenya Mulls Generics (UN Wire, 25 May 2001)

AIDS Fund Giving Lags as Nations, Agencies Wrangle: $1b Expected This Year Despite $7b-$10b Goal (John Donnelly, Boston Globe, 24 May 2001)

HIV/AIDS is a workplace issue: New [draft] ILO Code of Practice (Human.Rights@Work: A monthly newsletter produced by the ILO Bureau for Workers' Activities, International Labour Organization, 23 May 2001)

Access to affordable medicines dominates GlaxoSmithKline AGM [annual general meeting] (Oxfam, 22 May 2001)

Malign neglect (leader/editorial, Financial Times, 21 May 2001)

HIV/AIDS: WHO Waters Down Brazilian Proposals For Cheap Drugs (UN Wire, 21 May 2001)

A cure for high prices: Jose Serra, Brazil's health minister, this week took his battle against the United States and multinational drug firms over phamaceutical patents to the World Health Organisation's annual assembly in Geneva. (The Economist, 18 May 2001)

Donors urged to support Africa's health systems not exacerbate their collapse (Save the Children UK and Medact, 18 May 2001)

NGOs Criticize UN AIDS Fund (UN Wire, 18 May 2001)

HIV/AIDS: S. African Drug Maker Requests Right To Copy Drugs (UN Wire, 18 May 2001)

Secretary-general [UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan] advances plans for International AIDS and Health Fund (UNAIDS and World Health Organization joint press release, 17 May 2001)

HIV/AIDS: Impact On Development Outlined At LDC [Least Developed Countries] Conference (UN Wire, 17 May 2001)

NGOs zero in on non-transparent WHO [World Health Organization]/Corporate links: Experts for the Health Action International and Oxfam said that the NGOs were not against cooperation with the private sector, but were concerned that this was taking place without transparency and accountability, and raised several issues of conflicts of interest, particularly because of the way the private sector was seconding consultants and experts to work at the secretariat of the WHO....Tiered or differential pricing between rich and poor markets may make a contribution, under certain conditions, for availability of medicines at accessible prices, but should not be seen as an alternative to generic competition or reform of the WTO’s Trade-Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs) Agreement, a representative of Oxfam told an NGO seminar/briefing session here on the occasion of the 54th World Health Assembly. (Chakravarthi Raghavan, Third World Network, 17 May 2001)

Fighting Back in Botswana: Nearly 36 percent of adults in Botswana are believed to have HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Elizabeth Farnsworth reports on how Botswana's government is trying to tackle the crisis, in part three of a four-part series. "Diamonds from mines like this are crucial to Botswana's economy, and as more and more workers ended up sick, Debswana decided to act. In early March, it announced that company doctors like Kobus Erasmus would begin to provide the full package of life-saving drugs called anti-retrovirals which have saved millions of lives in developed countries. The mining company would pay 90% of patients' costs."..."A high tech laboratory is under construction in Gabarone, which will have the capacity to analyze how patients on anti-retrovirals are doing. It's funded by the government and Harvard with help from Bristol Myers Squibb." (NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, PBS, 16 May 2001)

Role Of Health In Poverty Reduction Cited (UN Wire, 16 May 2001)

Trust fund to fight disease, importance of health to development among issues at thematic session of Brussels conference (Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, Brussels, 14-20 May 2001, 16 May 2001)

UNAIDS: HIV Needs to be at the Center of Development Policy (UNAIDS, 16 May 2001)

SAfrica-health-AIDS: S.Africa's AIDS activists turn to private sector as state dithers (Emsie Ferreira, Agence France-Presse, 13 May 2001) 

SACOB [South African Chamber of Business] HIV/AIDS initiative (South African Chamber of Business, 11 May 2001)

US-Brazil-AIDS: Oxfam says US hampers Brazil's anti-AIDS fight, urges end to WTO complaint (Nathaniel Harrison, Agence France-Presse, 11 May 2001) 

HEALTH-US: Bush Contribution to Global AIDS Fund Assailed (Jim Lobe, Inter Press Service, 11 May 2001)

UNAIDS welcomes landmark US contribution to international fund (UNAIDS, 11 May 2001)

Secretary-General thanks US President Bush for commitment to global fight against HIV/AIDS (United Nations, 11 May 2001)

Critical moment for Kenyan industrial property bill: Millions already ill but, with safeguards, bill can provide access to cheaper medicines (Médecins Sans Frontières, 10 May 2001)

World AIDS experts call for urgent action, say leaders must demonstrate financial and political commitment (UNAIDS, 10 May 2001)

HEALTH-INDIA: Group Helps Keep Up Fight Vs Expensive Drugs [India] (T V Padma, Inter Press Service, 7 May 2001)

HIV/AIDS: South African Businesses Propose Funding Treatment (UN Wire, 7 May 2001)

Anglo to give Aids drugs to workers [South Africa] (Bobby Jordan, Sunday Times [South Africa], 6 May 2001)

World Health Organization and Aventis announce a major initiative to step up efforts against sleeping sickness (World Health Organization, 3 May 2001)

Supply of sleeping sickness drugs confirmed [MSF welcomes agreement between WHO and Aventis securing production of life-saving medicines to treat sleeping sickness] (Médecins Sans Frontières, 3 May 2001)

Toward a Global AIDS Fund (editorial, New York Times, 2 May 2001)

Costly campaign against AIDS looks past treatment to prevention (Barbara Crossette, New York Times Service, in International Herald Tribune, 2 May 2001)

Global $$, Leadership Keys to AIDS Fight (James D. Wolfensohn, President of World Bank, in Newsday [New York], 2 May 2001)

Drug Companies vs. Brazil: The Threat to Public Health (Oxfam GB, 1 May 2001)

World Bank targets poverty, Aids (David Schepp, BBC News Online, 1 May 2001)

Richest nations promise to spend billions to fight Aids (Philip Thornton, Independent [UK], 30 Apr. 2001)

Nigeria's choice of generics will allow 10,000 to be treated (Médecins Sans Frontières, 30 Apr. 2001)

UN calls for £7bn a year Aids fund (Chris McGreal, Guardian [UK], 27 Apr. 2001) 

People before profits: The international pharmaceutical industry has lost its legal battle to bar South Africa from importing cheap generic drugs.  Poor people the world over can rejoice, writes Gamal Nkrumah. (Gamal Nkrumah, Al-Ahram Weekly [Cairo], 26 Apr. - 2 May 2001)

Global health fund [proposed by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan] must not just be about drugs (Save the Children and Medact, 26 Apr. 2001)

UN Chief Calls for Multibillion Dollar 'War Chest' to Fight AIDS (Associated Press, 26 Apr. 2001)

Kenya crusades for cheap Aids drugs: Nairobi is following South Africa's lead by calling for low-cost medicines, writes Chris McGreal (Chris McGreal, Guardian [UK], 25 Apr. 2001)

Glaxo defends £1.4bn profits: Critics of Africa Aids policy rebuffed (Andrew Clark, Guardian [UK], 25 Apr. 2001)

Asia on the brink of Aids crisis: Urgent plan needed to stem the tide [includes reference to Thailand Business Coalition on Aids] (Aphaluck Bhatiasevi, Bangkok Post, 24 Apr. 2001)

HIV/AIDS: UN Panel Deems Medication Access A Human Right (UN Wire, 24 Apr. 2001)

UN rights body backs Brazil on Aids drugs (news24 [South Africa], 24 Apr. 2001)

AIDS Gaffes in Africa Come Back To Haunt Drug Industry in the U.S. (Gardiner Harris, Wall Street Journal, 23 Apr. 2001)

{···português} ONU declara: acesso a remédio é direito humano (Jamil Chade, Estadao.com [Brazil], 23 abril 2001)

Commission on Human Rights adopts six resolutions...[UN Commission on Human Rights adopts resolution recognising that access to medication in the context of pandemics such as HIV/AIDS is a fundamental element for achieving enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health; adopted by vote of 52 in favour, none opposed, one abstention] (United Nations, 23 Apr. 2001)

Drugs: Round One to Africa: Nick Mathiason explains why the pharmas gave way, and why South Africa's joy may be short-lived (Nick Mathiason, Observer [UK], 22 Apr. 2001)

Drug settlement heralds new relationship, says SANAC [South African National Aids Council] (SAPA [South African Press Association], in Woza [South Africa], 22 Apr. 2001)

Editorial: A country's right to heal its people (Bangkok Post, 21 Apr. 2001)

Legal roadshow rolls on to Brazil [after the collapse of the drug companies' case against the South African Government] (Sarah Boseley, Guardian [UK], 20 Apr. 2001)

A war yet to be won [access to affordable anti-AIDS drugs in South Africa] (Business Day [Johannesburg], 20 Apr. 2001)

{···français} Après Pretoria, quelle politique contre le sida? Recul des multinationales pharmaceutiques (Philippe Rivière, Le Monde diplomatique, 20 avril 2001)  

Drug giants back down (Belinda Beresford, Daily Mail & Guardian [Johannesburg], 20 Apr. 2001)

Drugs industry has a bitter bill to swallow (telegraph.co.uk [Daily Telegraph, UK], 20 Apr. 2001)

ANC urged to deliver Aids drugs: As pharmaceutical firms cave in, South Africans call on the state to exploit the victory and distribute medicines (Chris McGreal, Guardian [UK], 20 Apr. 2001)

We have a deal: A drug company boss explains the climbdown in South Africa (Jean-Pierre Garnier, Chief Executive, GlaxoSmithKline, Guardian [UK], 20 Apr. 2001)

A victory for the poor: Drug giants forced to bow to people power (leader/editorial, Guardian [UK], 20 Apr. 2001)

Drug giants made to swallow bitter pill: Global opinion won in South Africa, but will it triumph when the US fights Brazil's cheap Aids medicine? (Charlotte Denny and James Meek, Guardian, 19 Apr. 2001)

Drug companies in South Africa capitulate under barrage of public pressure: Powerful precedent set for other developing countries (Médecins Sans Frontières, 19 Apr. 2001)

Drug giants throw in the towel [South Africa] (Oxfam, 19 Apr. 2001)

Shamed and humiliated - the drug firms back down (Chris McGreal, Guardian [UK], 19 Apr. 2001)

Drugs firms drop lawsuit challenge against cheap AIDS treatment (Independent [UK], 19 Apr. 2001)

Pharmacists appeal for solution to drugs battle (Business Day [Johannesburg], 19 Apr. 2001)

Firms split over deal in cheap drugs lawsuit: Big companies break ranks in bid to reach South African settlement (Chris McGreal, Guardian [UK], 18 Apr. 2001)

Drug price wars: Helping the poor will help the industry (leader/editorial, Guardian [UK], 18 Apr. 2001)

Aids charity has drug makers on the run: Climax near in South African case for cheaper medicines (Chris McGreal, Guardian [UK], 18 Apr. 2001)

Mandela slams drug makers, chides S. African govt (Brendan Boyle, Reuters, 15 Apr. 2001)

WHO Urges Pharmaceutical Firms to Cut Prices for Poor (Reuters, 11 Apr. 2001)

Drug giants set to cause violation of human rights: Oxfam calls for urgent UN investigation (Oxfam, 11 Apr. 2001)

AIDS Group Files Papers Against Drug Firms (Steven Swindells, Reuters, 11 Apr. 2001)

Medicines Act Court Case Affidavit filed by TAC [Treatment Action Campaign] on 10 Apr. 2001 [concerning the South African anti-AIDS drugs court case by 39 pharmaceutical companies] (Treatment Action Center, 10 Apr. 2001), and supporting affidavits:

Experts Mull Cheap Drugs for Poor at Norway Talks (Alister Doyle, Reuters, 9 Apr. 2001)

{···français} La propriété intellectuelle, c'est le vol (Daniel Cohen, Le Monde, 7 avril 2001)

U.S. Study Backs AIDS Care for Africa: Wealthy Nations Would Pay for At-Cost Drugs Under Harvard Scenario (Karen DeYoung, International Herald Tribune, 6 Apr. 2001)

Global AIDS Trust Fund: A Step Toward a Solution (editorial, Newsday [New York], 6 Apr. 2001)

6 Companies in New AIDS Pact (Reuters, 6 Apr. 2001)

Annan Gains Pledges from Drug Makers (Alix M. Freedman, Wall Street Journal, 6 Apr. 2001)

South Africa Says Key AIDS Drugs Still Too Costly (Steven Swindells, Reuters, 6 Apr. 2001)

Harvard Urges AIDS Trust Fund / Rich nations would pay for drug system in poor (Laurie Garret, Newsday [New York], 5 Apr. 2001)

Groundbreaking Blueprint Calls for Widespread Availability of Antiretroviral Treatment to HIV-infected Persons in Poor Countries: Faculty members from Harvard University propose the development of pilot programs designed to test feasibility and effectiveness of HIV drug therapies in low-income countries (Harvard University, 4 Apr. 2001)

Massive New Effort to Combat African AIDS is Planned (Huntly Collins and Susan Warner, Philadelphia Inquirer, 4 Apr. 2001)

Drug firms say S. Africa fails to take up AIDS offers (Steven Swindells, Reuters, 4 Apr. 2001)

Africa Presses WTO on Drug Patents (Gustavo Capdevila, Inter Press Service, 4 Apr. 2001)

Patents and Development: What Role for the World Community? (Dr. Christopher Stevens, Institute of Development Studies, 4 Apr. 2001)

Timidity on AIDS (editorial, Washington Post, in International Herald Tribune, 3 Apr. 2001)

The Issue of Discounted Pricing in Developing Countries: Individual Company Decisions Regarding The Pricing Of Pharmaceutical Products (Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America [PhRMA], 3 Apr. 2001)

US Takes Hardline on Drug Patents (Gustavo Capdevila, Inter Press Service, 2 Apr. 2001)

South Africa vs. the drug giants: Oxfam update on South African court case (Oxfam, Apr. 2001)

Implausible Denial: Why the Drug Giants' Arguments on Patents Don't Stack Up (Oxfam, Apr. 2001)

'State spurned Aids-drug offers' (Jeremy Gordin, The Sunday Independent [South Africa], 31 Mar. 2001)

Blair sides with drug giants (Sarah Boseley, Guardian [UK], 31 Mar. 2001)

Hundreds picket drug firm about patent battle (Ishani Bechoo, Daily News [South Africa], 30 Mar. 2001)

Annan Urges Businesses To Do More in Health Sector (UN Wire, 29 Mar. 2001)

Brazil wins fight over prices of Merck AIDS drugs (Katherine Baldwin, Reuters, 29 Mar. 2001)

HIV/AIDS: Merck Offers To Cut Drug Prices In Brazil (UN Wire, 29 Mar. 2001)

Low-Cost Medicine Debate Grips WTO, WHO (Gustavo Capdevila, Inter Press Service, 28 Mar. 2001)

SOUTH AFRICA-AIDS: Drugs alone no panacea (Integrated Regional Information Network, 26 Mar. 2001)

Long-term commitment to fight AIDS in southern Africa (M.F. Borel, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, 26 Mar. 2001)

Commissioner [European Commissioner for Trade] Defends TRIPS but Acknowledges NGO Concerns (EuropaWorld, 23 Mar. 2001)

World TB Day 2001: Access to TB Cure a Human Rights Imperative: TB and HIV Linked, Joint Efforts Needed (joint UNAIDS/World Health Organization press release, 22 Mar. 2001)

Meeting with CIPLA (joint UNAIDS/World Health Organization press release, 22 Mar. 2001)

AIDS Data Put South Africa at the Epicenter of Epidemic (Rachel L. Swarns, International Herald Tribune, 21 Mar. 2001)

South African refusal of free HIV kits 'ludicrous' (Alex Duval Smith, Independent [UK], 20 Mar. 2001)

Denmark calls on drug firms to end South Africa court battle (Agence France-Presse, 19 Mar. 2001)

Dilemma of Cheaper Drugs (Tom Buerkle, International Herald Tribune, 19 Mar. 2001)

The poor are consumers, too (Terry Slavin, Observer, 18 Mar. 2001)

European Parliament demands that drug companies drop case against South African Medicines Law: MSF and Oxfam welcome unprecedented call for access to medicines (Oxfam and Médecins Sans Frontières, 17 Mar. 2001)

Euro Parliament wants to get cheap AIDS drugs to South Africa (Agence France-Presse, 15 Mar. 2001)

Cheaper drugs for Africa: Manufacturer [Bristol-Myers Squibb] to relax its patent on two Aids remedies (Andrew Clark and Julian Borger, Guardian [UK], 15 Mar. 2001)

WHO, WTO Secretariats to hold workshop on affordable drugs (joint press release, WTO, WHO, Norwegian Foreign Ministry, Global Health Council, 15 Mar. 2001)

AIDS Help for the Poor (New York Times editorial, in International Herald Tribune, 14 Mar. 2001)

G-7 Nations Ponder Footing Bill To Fight AIDS in Poorer Countries (Michael M. Phillips and Yaroslav Trofimov, Wall Street Journal, 13 Mar. 2001)

Drug pricing for developing countries "unacceptable", says President [of Red Cross] (International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, 12 Mar. 2001)

Cheaper drugs help Aids war in South Africa (Karen Macgregor, Independent [UK], 11 Mar. 2001)

AIDS Drug Battle Deepens in Africa (Rachel Swarns, International Herald Tribune, 9 Mar. 2001)

Questions and Answers: On The AIDS Front Line - A South African HIV expert discusses his country's fight for affordable drugs (Newsweek, 9 Mar. 2001)

Drug Companies Rocked (Belinda Beresford, Mail & Guardian [Johannesburg], 9 Mar. 2001)

A Long Road To Recovery: An Indian drug company's offer of cheaper medicines changes the Aids debate, but likely won't answer the prayers of the poor for now (Joanna Slater, Far Eastern Economic Review, 8 Mar. 2001)

Big Drug Firms Defend Right to Patents On AIDS Drugs in South African Court (Robert Block, Wall Street Journal, 6 Mar. 2001)

Trial in AIDS Drug Lawsuit Opens in Pretoria (Henri E. Cauvin, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2001)

39 drug companies versus South Africa: People die for lack of affordable drugs as inhumane industry ignores reality (Oxfam and Médecins Sans Frontières, 5 Mar. 2001)

State takes on world's pharmaceutical giants (Zelda Venter and Clive Sawyer, The Star [South Africa], 4 Mar. 2001)

DEVELOPMENT: AIDS Battle Bigger than Pharmaceuticals, Say Health Officials (Gumisai Mutume, Inter Press Service, 2 Mar. 2001)

GlaxoSmithKline and World Health Organization sign agreement to develop a new treatment for malaria (World Health Organization, 2 Mar. 2001)

Replying Affidavit Submitted to Pretoria High Court [concerning the South African anti-AIDS drugs court case by 39 pharmaceutical companies] (TAC [Treatment Action Campaign, Mar. 2001)

The impact of patent rules on the treatment of HIV/AIDS in Thailand (Oxfam GB, Mar. 2001)

Global Strategies for People's Health: Fighting medical apartheid (Philippe Demenet, Le Monde diplomatique, Mar. 2001)

{···français} L'exemple bangladeshi [Centre de santé populaire] (Philippe Demenet, Le Monde diplomatique, Mar. 2001)

Yes, Drugs for the Poor - and Patents as Well (Mike Moore, Director-General of World Trade Organization, in International Herald Tribune, 22 Feb. 2001)

Medicines denied in the name of commerce (Sarah Boseley, Mail & Guardian [Johannesburg], 16 Feb. 2001)

Oxfam Targeting Drug Firms (International Herald Tribune, 13 Feb. 2001)

GlaxoSmithKline risks reputation, warns Oxfam (Oxfam, 12 Feb. 2001)

Oxfam launches Cut the Cost campaign: Drug industry price life-saving medicines beyond reach of the poor (Oxfam, 12 Feb. 2001)

A Harsh Campaign to Prevent Affordable AIDS Treatment (Kevin Watkins, Senior Policy Adviser of Oxfam, in Interntational Herald Tribune, 12 Feb. 2001)

Health Policies in the Global Economy (Dr Gro Harlem Brundtland, Director-General, World Health Organization, 10 Feb. 2001)

AIDS triple therapy for less than $1 per day: MSF challenges pharmaceutical industry to match generic prices (Medecins sans frontieres, 7 Feb. 2001)

Offer to Africa on AIDS Drug (Donald McNeil Jr., International Herald Tribune, 7 Feb. 2001)

HIV/AIDS: Netaid.org And TIME Collaborate To Help Patients (UN Wire, 6 Feb. 2001)

A Human Rights Approach to TB [tuberculosis]: Stop TB Guidelines for Social Mobilization (World Health Organization/Stop TB Partnership, 1 Feb. 2001)

Patent Injustice: How World Trade Threatens the Health of Poor People (Oxfam briefing paper, Feb. 2001)

Dare to Lead: public health and company wealth: Oxfam Briefiing Paper on GlaxoSmithKline (Oxfam, Feb. 2001)

Bangladesh: Make vital medicines available for poor people (Oxfam GB, Feb. 2001)

Dominican Republic: Make vital medicines available for poor people (Oxfam GB, Feb. 2001)

Defying the Drug Cartel - The South African Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines: An Interview with Zachie Achmat (Multinational Monitor, Jan./Feb. 2001)

Bill Gates pledges $100m to fight Aids (Anthony Browne, The Observer [UK], 28 Jan. 2001)

Silence=Death: AIDS, Africa and Pharmaceuticals: The West is willfully turning its back on the greatest human tragedy of our age, says the former deputy head of Unicef (Stephen Lewis, Toronto Globe and Mail, 26 Jan. 2001)

DaimlerChrysler Fights Back as AIDS Damages Productivity in South African Plants (EuropaWorld, 12 Jan. 2001)

Tripping Over Patents: AIDS, Access to Treatment and the Manufacturing of Scarcity [includes extensive material on South Africa] (Jonathan Michael Berger, 2001)

The Development Context: What is the impact of HIV/AIDS? (extracts from a study by Mirta Gonzalez, Oxfam/Community Aid Abroad [Australia], 2001)

2000:

Europe and UK hampering Third World's fight on Aids (Alex Duval Smith, Independent [UK], 5 Dec. 2000)

Institute releases report on intellectual property and HIV/AIDS pharmaceuticals: Report focuses on sub-Saharan Africa and the Role of Patents (International Intellectual Property Institute, 1 Dec. 2000)

'Africa is dying', says OAU Representative as General Assembly begins review of worldwide impact of HIV/AIDS pandemic (United Nations, 2 Nov. 2000)

Patents, High Prices Keep Essential Drugs Out Of Reach (Anaclet Rwegayura, Panafrican News Agency, 25 Oct. 2000)

Integrating Public Health Concerns into Patent Legislation in Developing Countries (Carlos Correa, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Oct. 2000) 

TRIPS and pharmaceuticals: A case of corporate profits over public health (Cecilia Oh, Third World Network, 30 Sep. 2000) 

The business response to HIV/AIDS: Impact and lessons learned (Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, Global Business Council on HIV & AIDS, Prince of Wales Business Leaders Forum, July 2000) 

Oxfam calls $1b drug deal "a debt for tomorrow's AIDS orphans" (Oxfam GB, 21 July 2000)

AFRICA-AIDS: U.S. drug offer is criticised (IRIN/Integrated Regional Information Networks, 20 July 2000)

MSF calls for rapid action on access to HIV/AIDS treatment (Medecins sans frontieres/Doctors Without Borders, 13 July 2000)

Activists discount big drugmakers' gifts (Steve Sternberg, USA Today, 11 July 2000)

Aids: The disease ten times as deadly as war (Sarah Boseley, Guardian [UK], 8 July 2000)

Keeping up the pressure on the pharmaceutical industry (Jacky Delorme, Trade Union World, 15 June 2000)

Narrowing the 10/90 Gap in Health Research: Less than 10% of the estimated US$56 billion spent annually on health research by the public and private sectors is devoted to diseases or conditions that account for 90% of the global burden of disease. This economically costly and socially unfair situation is at the heart of the 10/90 Report on Health Research 2000, released here today by the Global Forum for Health Research. (Global Forum for Health Research, 2 May 2000)

Submission on the draft 'Code of Good Practice on Key Aspects of HIV/AIDS and Employment' (AIDS Law Project - South Africa, 25 April 2000)

HIV/AIDS and the World of Work in South Africa: "Much ado about nothing?" A report for the International Labour Office (ILO) (Mark Heywood and Fatima Rahiman, AIDS Law Project - South Africa, April 2000)

The business response to HIV/AIDS: impact and lessons learned [Section 5, "Profiles of business activities in response to HIV/AIDS", includes profiles of American International Assurance, Thailand; The Body Shop, Japan; Warsaw Marriott Hotel; Larsen & Toubro, India; Volkswagen do Brasil; Molson Breweries, Canada; Chevron Nigeria; Standard Chartered Bank, UK; International Hotel & Restaurant Association; Anglo Coal, South Africa; Eskom, South Africa; ALMS, Czech Republic; Teddy Exports, India; Bristol Myers Squibb, USA; The Shell Company of Thailand] (Prince of Wales International Business Leaders Forum in collaboration with UNAIDS and Global Business Council on HIV/AIDS, 2000)

1999:

Compulsory Licensing and Parallel Importing: What do they mean?  Will they improve access to essential drugs for people living with HIV/AIDS? (Margaret Duckett, International Council of AIDS Service Organizations [ICASO], July 1999)

1998:

Human rights approaches to an expanded response to address women's vulnerability to HIV/AIDS [abstract] (Daniel Whelan, Health and Human Rights, vol. 3, no. 1, 1998) {···english···español···français}

Children Confronting HIV/AIDS: Charting the Confluence of Rights and Health [abstract] (Daniel Tarantola and Sofia Gruskin, Health and Human Rights, vol. 3, no. 1, 1998) {···english···español···français}

1997:

The AIDS Epidemic in Africa: "Openness" and Human Rights (Mark Heywood, AIDS Law Project - South Africa, 1997)

1993:

Economic and Social Rights and the Right to Health: An Interdisciplinary Discussion Held at Harvard Law School in September, 1993 (Harvard Human Rights Program, Harvard Law School, François-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights [Harvard School of Public Health], Sep. 1993)