Clinton Brokers AIDS Drugs Deal for Poor

Associated Press and Yahoo News ^ | Oct 24, 2003 | KAREN MATTHEWS

[SkyPilot]

NEW YORK - Four foreign, generic-drug companies will provide low-cost AIDS (news - web sites) drugs to several nations in Africa and the Caribbean, former President Clinton (news - web sites) said Thursday on an agreement brokered by his foundation.

The plan will cut the price of a triple-drug regimen in those countries to about 38 cents a day, Clinton said at a news conference.

"This agreement will allow the delivery of lifesaving medicines to people who desperately need them," Clinton said. "It represents a big breakthrough in our efforts to begin treatment programs in places where, until now, there has been virtually no medicine and therefore no hope."

Under the deal brokered by the William J. Clinton Presidential Foundation, three Indian drug companies and one South African firm will cut the price of their AIDS drugs for distribution in Rwanda, Mozambique, Tanzania, South Africa and several Caribbean nations.

The pharmaceutical companies and Clinton advisers have worked this year on ways to cut costs and reduce drug prices, and the foundation has collaborated with governments of the African and Caribbean nations on feasible ways to fund AIDS treatment.

South Africa is one of the hardest-hit nations by HIV (news - web sites) and AIDS, with some 4.7 million South Africans, roughly 11 percent of the population, infected with the virus.

The foundation has also helped nations prepare for introducing the drugs into their health systems. The plans are intended to make the drugs more readily available to AIDS patients.

To pay for the drugs, and for improvements in the countries' health systems, Clinton has secured partial funding by lobbying wealthier nations, including Ireland and Canada. Ireland has committed $58.3 million over five years, mainly to Mozambique.

The four African nations have each secured additional funds from other sources, including the World Bank (news - web sites) and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

[SkyPilot]

I posted this in Breaking News because Yahoo and other news sources have it in the Headlines today---all day. This is what is bombarding the American people, and passes for objective journalism these days.

Here he is, the Liberal Messiah.

[CWOJackson]

This could backfire on him when the gay community in this country demands the same drugs at the same price.

[tdadams]

I guess this is the unofficial beginning of Clinton's campaign to be the next UN Secretary General.

[princess leah]

What's in it for Clinton? Oh yea, that Legacy thing he's been trying so hard to get!!!

[LetsRok]

What's in it for Clinton? Oh yea, that Legacy thing he's been trying so hard to get!!!

Jimmy Carter builds houses in the United States to establish a positive legacy. Clinton has to go overseas.

[TheCrusader]

"This could backfire on him when the gay community in this country demands the same drugs at the same price."

Maybe the gay community will move to Africa for their cheap drugs. (Sorry for fantasizing).

[Afronaut]

William J. Clinton Presidential Foundation

The next leader of the United Nations.

[chris_in_nj]

TRUST ME - I am NO Clinton fan....with the exception of picking Robert Rubin as Treasury Secretary I loathe him as a man and all of his political policies.

But I have seen and known people who died from AIDS....it is torturing to watch.

But I really do not see how this is a bad thing.

-chris in nj

[Dante3]

Clinton is here, there, everywhere in camera range. Of course, as to AIDS he might well have had some close calls.

[CWOJackson]

You may not be far wrong.

I think some of his own people have pointed out how he would make an excellent Secretary General for the U.N.

I do believe by their standards he would be well qualified.

[Sloth]

Maybe he feels guilty for giving so many of them AIDS.

[OldFriend]

It's a bad thing because the situation in Africa and other third world countries is not the lack of availability of medication for AIDS.

Bill Gates just recently issued a statement of utter dismay that despite the FREE medication available the people in Africa refuse to even get tested for AIDS, let alone go to the doctor for treatment.

[TroutStalker]

Clinton Program Would Help Poor Nations Get AIDS Drugs [Engineered by Ira Magaziner]

[areafiftyone]

But I really do not see how this is a bad thing.

As much as I loath Clinton and truly believe underneath he is trying to get some kind of nobel prize or something else out of this - I believe it is a good thing too. I hate to see anyone with a devastating disease suffer more from lack of medicine.

[chris_in_nj]

Hadn't heard of that....thanks for keeping me informed.

C in NJ

[twigs]

There's no doubt that this is a haunting, torturous disease. However, it seems that going to foreign manufacturers when American companies have put the money into R&D is undermining our own drug companies. If it wasn't for American R&D, the world would not have access to the drugs it does.

[OldFriend]

He's working on getting the Nobel Prize.....nothing more!

[CherylBower]

Here's a scary thought for a Friday. Bill becomes UN Sec Gen. Hillary gets elected President in '08 (no way she beats Bush). Hillary, by executive orders, cedes all soveriegnty to the UN. Then she succeeds Bill as Sec Gen/Dictator of the World for Life.

[Bigg Red]

He's working on getting the Nobel Prize.....nothing more!


**

Exactly. It's always about him. Count on it.

[SkyPilot]

Yes, well Clinton can pander to the gay community, and they will just blame John Ashcroft and Scalia for the high cost of drugs. (I know---it makes no sense to blame those two, but it will make the gays feel good to hate somebody).