Access to HIV treatment is a trade issue. But, not for the organizers of 6th ICAAP.

[Guest guest]

Access to HIV treatment is a trade issue. But, not for

the organizers of 6th ICAAP.

Dear Friends,

Many of you must have seen the invitation from the

organizers of the 6th International conference on AIDS

in Asia Pacific (6thICAAP) calling for submission of

abstracts.

There is a greater appreciation to the fact that in

many Asian countries access to HIV treatment is

intricately linked to the issue of how the global

trade laws dictates on who could produce HIV

medicines, and how it could be distributed. In many

countries AIDS treatment activist are engaging in a

day-to-day struggle to get the price of HIV medication

reduced. They are also trying to encourage the

governments to produce the generic HIV medications,

and to deal with the implications of the global trade

agreements on access to HIV medications.

Recently, the Thai AIDS activists have successfully

managed to bring down the cost of some of the

essential HIV medications. Thai government is trying

to regulate the monopoly of some of the HIV

medications. Government of India is holding back from

issuing licence to produce generic HIV medications due

to the fear of potential trade backlash form the

global Pharmaceutical industry. The Malaysian prime

minister, specifically mentioned about the need to

explore the possibility of compulsory licensing of

essential HIV medications, during his inauguration

speech at the 5th ICAAP

The GlaxoWellcome has recently threatened an Indian

company, manufacturing HIV medication (strictly under

Indian trade laws) with legal action- creating

barriers to access to HIV medication.

UNAIDS itself is running a project to enhance access

to HIV treatment in Vietnam. We urgently need to know

the lessons learned from such experiments.

However, none of these issues are key topics in

treatment and care stream (theme one) selected by the

Melbourne 6th ICAAP organizers. What a shame!

It appears that the Melbourne organizers are keener to

appease the International pharmaceutical industry,

than addressing pressing issues related to access to

treatment in developing countries in Asia Pacific

region. The topics presented in the treatment and care

stream looks like the topics of a drug company

sponsored conference.

The issue of 'stigma and discrimination' is yet

another key topic which did not attract the attention

of the organizers of the conference. People living

with HIV/AIDS in many countries in Asia-pacific region

are discriminated in health care, social and cultural

settings. Many of them are deprived of their

livelihood. In some countries they are subjected to

violence and vilification.

Many Australians learned the trick of discriminating

people, without appearing that they are discriminating

them. (Discrimination, at it's most sophisticated

form!) It appears that some members the conference

organizers also learned this trick. They managed to

brush aside the issue of stigma and discrimination

altogether from the conference topics

The sad truth is that, overall, very limited

appreciation to the wider Asia Pacific issue are

presented as the key topics of the conference.

When Melbourne was selected as the venue for the 6th

ICAAP many of us was concerned about the fact that the

Australian organisers would end up organizing a

fantastic Australian AIDS Conference- Not, an Asia

Pacific conference. Unless, corrective measures are

taken immediately, our worst fears are likely to

happen.

Also, it is an insult to the AIDS workers from Asia

pacific- to decide Kobe (Japan) as the venue for 7th

ICAAP without any consultation with the AIDS community

in this region.

I would like to remind the conference organizers that

they are expected to organise an Asia Pacific AIDS

conference, Not an Australian AIDS conference. Also,

please don't abuse the opportunity to host the

conference as an opportunity for an ego trip for few

of the organizers.

It appears that tokenism is the major response of the

organizers to the anxieties and concerns of people

from other Asian Courtiers. I would like to request

the conference organizers that

a) Please demonstrate an unequivocal commitment to the

issue of access to treatment as an issue of trade. And

add that as a key topic in the conference.

Please declare the conflicts of interest with

pharmaceutical industry- if there is any -of the

people involved in the programme committee?

c) How much money GlaxoWellcome is offering to the

conference organizers to call GW as the Major sponsor

of the conference?

d) Keep the decision to host 7th ICAAP in Kobe (Japan)

on hold until a wider consultation is carried out on

this issue. (Two ICAAPs consecutively in developed

countries would definitely distort the regional

priorities)

Welcome to Melbourne!

Joe

Melbourne.

Australia

E-mail:joe_thomas123@...