Europe attacking access to affordable generic drugs | Bangkok Post: opinion

AIDS PREVENTION

Millions of people in developing countries rely on affordable quality generic medicines produced in India to stay alive. In fact, Medecins Sans Frontires (MSF) sources more than 80% of the HIV medicines it uses to treat 160,000 patients across the world from India, and a recent study found that from 2003-2008, more than 80% of donor-funded purchases of HIV medicines came from India.

Children with Aids (above) are looked after at the child care centre in Phnom Penh. Below is a poster distributed by the Vineeta Foundation. Today’s innocent children born with Aids will also be affected by the difficulties associated with accessing vital treatment.

Manufacturers in India have been able to produce cheaper versions of drugs patented elsewhere because until 2005, the country did not grant patents on medicines and multiple producers competed for the market, driving prices for the most-affordable drug combination down by more than 99% over the last decade.