New Negotiations Lower Prices of HIV Drugs in 10 Countries of the Americas
Washington, DC, June 12, 2003 (PAHO)—The director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Dr. Mirta Roses Periago, today praised 10 Latin American countries for their successful negotiation to reduce the prices of antiretroviral drugs for HIV/AIDS treatment. The agreement will allow the countries to save up to $120 million a year, which amounts to 150,000 annual treatments.
"These savings are a demonstration of what can be achieved when governments and the pharmaceutical companies are truly committed to the well-being of the population," said Roses. Antiretroviral drug treatment drastically reduces the incidence of opportunistic infections and substantially improves the quality of life for those living with HIV/AIDS.
The reduction of prices will benefit Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Chile, Argentina, Mexico, Paraguay and Uruguay. The agreement was negotiated June 5 to 7 in Lima , Peru, by the ministries of health of the countries with support from PAHO, the Andean Health Organism (ORAS) and the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). The process of negotiations was accompanied by representatives of people living with HIV.
The biggest reductions were offered by seven manufacturers of generic antirretrovirals. There also were reductions in the prices of one brand name drug manufacturer, Abbott Laboratories. All the companies meet the quality requirements established by the negotiating countries, which are based on standards outlined by the World Health Organization prequalification process.
In the 10 countries, the prices of first line therapy (the most common treatment for people living with HIV) will be reduced between 30 percent and 92 percent. The therapy prices varied from $1,000 to $5,000 and after the negotiation will fluctuate from $350 to $690. "We congratulate the countries on their commitment in utilizing this benefit to improve the care of people living with HIV in the Region," Roses said.
The negotiations will also improve the prices of the laboratory reagents, which are used for diagnosis and follow up. Five manufacturers of reagents offered reductions from 62 percent to 81 percent for the rapid tests of diagnosis, from 13 percent to 33 percent for the ELISA test, from 5 percent to 70 percent for the CD4 count test and from 22 percent to 82 percent for the viral load test.
The negotiation of the 10 countries is the third to take place in the Latin American and Caribbean Region. Other important discounts were obtained for the Caribbean countries, in June 2002, and for those of Central America, in February of this year. It is estimated that 60 percent of the people in the developing world under antiretroviral treatment live in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The Pan American Health Organization, founded 100 years ago, works with all the countries in the Americas to improve the health and well being of all their peoples. PAHO also serves as the regional office of the World Health Organization.