By Christian George
Stakeholders, in a meeting organised by AIDS HealthCare Foundation on Tuesday, in Abuja have called for open license for the generic production of HIV and hepatitis C drugs to allow low and middle-income countries access to lifesaving drugs.
The forum, while in a chat with the press, urged biopharmaceutical firms in the world not to put profit before people’s lives.
The Country Program Director, AHF Nigeria Dr Echey Ijezie, explained that some companies have priced several of their HIV and hepatitis C drugs out of reach for many people, by refusing to register some drugs in developing countries.
He pleaded that such companies should license the technology for the production of treatment for cryptococcal meningitis to generic manufacturers among others.
In a report by Punch, Director for Advocacy and Marketing for Africa Breau AHF, Ms Oluwkemi Gbadamosi, said Gilead should be held accountable for placing a price on the most effective, modern, and lifesaving medicines.
“The research and development are often funded by U.S. taxpayers, but for their generosity, the public is rewarded with astronomical drug prices. For example, a highly effective hepatitis C drug cost $1,000 per pill and a 12-week course of treatment has a retail price of over $90,000 in the U.S.
“A generic version of the same drug cost only $4 per pill in India, but according to Medecins Sans Frontieres, Gilead has excluded 50 middle-income countries from access to the generic discounted price. These excluded countries like Jamaica, Tunisia, the Philippines, Ukraine, and Venezuela among others,” she explained.
The Executive Secretary of Nigeria Network of Religious Leaders Living with HIV/AIDS, Ms Amber Erinunwinhe, said the lives of people must matter first before profiteering hence calling on Gilead to end its monopolistic behaviour and ensure the license for generic production was made available.
“We must look at the lives of people, the people you are producing these drugs for should be the number one before your profit. This is because if the lives are not there tomorrow, I don’t think they would make a such profit, and am happy the advocacy is not just Nigeria but a global one,” she said.
