Pharmaceutical Industry fails the Poor Nov02 |
I
refer to the article in the Guardian on 4th October by Sarah Boseley and
Rory Carroll, "Profiteers resell Africa's cheap Aids drugs". I
am astonished that Mr. Alan Chandler of Glaxo Smith Kline cannot
understand why "illegal traders" re-export lower priced AIDS
drugs destined for the poor to Europe. They do it for profit, as these
drugs cannot be easily identified as distinct for a specific market! How
would the public know that they are destined for people in poor countries?
And how can Mr. Chandler blame others for such scams when his own company
has failed to take adequate precautions to stop such trade? I
was the author of the European Parliament's Report on "Combating
communicable diseases: HIV/AIDS, TB & Malaria" in which I
specifically pointed out the need for distinctive shape, colour and
packaging for drugs for communicable diseases destined for the poor at
lower prices. I emphasised the importance of this to prevent re-export by
irresponsible traders and corrupt politicians. I indicated that the media
could be used to publicise information in Europe, the USA and
industrialised countries about distinctive and different packaging for
drugs for the poor. This would allow the public to name and shame those
wholesalers and pharmacies re-importing and selling in their communities.
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