Gramajo EA, Bellocq JL, Vinuela R; International Conference on AIDS.
Int Conf AIDS. 2002 Jul 7-12; 14: abstract no. TuPeG5603.
Counselling Coordinator, Buenos Aires, Argentina
DESCRIPTION: Fundacion SPES together with the Asociacion Redes Nueva Frontera and the Argentinean Network of PLWHA, is investigating and denouncing serious problems in relation to the quality of similar or non verified antiretrovirals, which are bought and distributed in Argentina to more than 20000 persons with HIV. The National Medication Administration ( ANMAT, local version of FDA) has approved several certificates for the production of copies of ARV's, having approved as an example: about thirty certificates for the production of Lamivudine only. The Argentine Government buys ARV's through public bids, which are assigned to the lowest price offered and this has compelled them to buy non verified similar medicines. Our organisations have exercised public pressure on media and governmental departments in order to have them acknowledge that ARV's are drugs of high sanitary risk and to submit them to tests of therapeutical equivalence (Bioequivalence y Biodisponibility). In 2001, our organisations filed a legal appeal against the Argentine State because of the quality of the ARV's. LESSON LEARNED: A State non committed to execute efficient health policies particularly with respect to HIV/AIDS, non committed to incentivate the domestic scientific and technological development, is incapable to guarantee the quality of the drugs for the consumption of its inhabitants, remaining as a hostage of red tape, corruption and vested interests. RECOMMENDATIONS: There cannot exist two standards of patients, of persons living with HIV: Those who live in central countries and treat the HIV infection with the ARV's indicated by the physicians "state of art" and those who live in underdeveloped countries, who will be exposed to drugs which have not been scientifically verified. The seriousness of the Argentine situation should serve as an emblematic example of "bad practices" and that cheap article can produce very expensive consequences.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Argentina
- Child Welfare
- Developing Countries
- HIV Infections
- HIV Seropositivity
- Health Policy
- Humans
- Organizations
Other ID:
UI: 102252804
From Meeting Abstracts