Invitation to a Satellite Meeting at the XIII International AIDS Conference in Durban

sIRONIERETAC
INVITATION TO A SATELLITE MEETING AT THE XIII INTERNATIONAL
AIDS CONFERENCE IN DURBAN
IMPROVING ACCESS TO HIV/AIDS DRUGS
IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
9 July 2000, 09:00-13:30 Durban City Hall
For the first time, the International AIDS Conference will be held on the African continent and in
a country where a significant proportion of the population has HIV/AIDS. People with
HIV/AIDS in South Africa - and in all developing countries - are facing a severe crisis of access
to the life-saving medications. The antiretroviral drugs that have transformed HIV/AIDS from a
death sentence to a chronic disease in developed countries are largely unavailable in developing
countries, priced beyond the means of most people.
UNAIDS, WHO, and a group of pharmaceutical companies recently announced that they are
discussing price reductions for HIV/AIDS drugs. While this is a positive development, few
details or commitments have been communicated, and many questions remain.
Melecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) and the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) will host a joint
satellite conference at the Durban 2000 International AIDS Conference entitled "Improving
Access to HIV/AIDS Drugs in Developing Countries," at which speakers from Africa, Asia,
Europe, USA and elsewhere will examine the next steps in the fight for access to care for
people with HIV/AIDS, addressing issues of drug pricing, medical needs, legal and political
strategies to widen access to treatment for HIV/AIDS in developing countries. Case studies will
be presented, and the emphasis will be on practical information that participants can take back
to their countries and use to advocate for increased access to medicines.
M6decins Sans Fronti6res is an international medical The Treatment Action Campaign works for access to
organisation working in more than 80 countries worldwide. affordable and quality treatment for all people with
In 1999, MSF launched its Access to Essential Medicines HIV/AIDS in South Africa and supports the global campaign
Campaign, which is aimed at stimulating research and for access to essential and life-saving drugs. All the major
development for neglected diseases, overcoming barriers to trade unions federations, religious bodies, the NGO
access, and humanizing international trade agreements. coalition and children's right organisations support the work
of TAC in South Africa.
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