Treat AIDS Now!

In 2005 the UK led world leaders in promising universal access to AIDS treatment by 2010. Keeping this promise is a matter of life and death for millions.

Making treatment affordable for all requires cheaper generic versions of essential medicines to become rapidly available.

However, unfair trade rules are blocking the production of generic versions of newer drugs- like Abbott's heat-stable Kaletra (keep reading for more info), and Gilead's Viread- keeping the price of drugs high and treatment out of reach for millions of people.

In addition, a substantial increase in funding is neede to ensure that a global effort if fully finances and everyone, even the poorest, can enjoy access to treatment. Funding needs to be sustainable and predictable over the long term so that developing country governments are able to plan and sustain an effective response to AIDS.

Our demands are-

Ensure that generic versions of essential medicines become rapidly and widely available. This should include ensuring that generic versions of Viread and heat-stable Kaletra are available to developing countries by the G8 Summit in 2007. If this proves impossible, the UK government must lead the way in reworking the trade rules that stand in the way of affordable treatment for all.

Introduce a stamp duty on sterling currency transaction in the Spring 08 budget to generate additional financing for development.

Ensure the UK's funding for HIV/AIDS reflects the resources required to keep the promise of universal access to treatment by 2010.

We collected signatures on petition cards to lobby MP's, the Secretary of State for International Development and the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

The 2007 G8 Summit deadline has been, gone and been missed. If current trends continue the aim to provide treatment for all who need it by 2010 will be missed as well.

We have also seen, in the last few months Abbott Laboritories, the pharmaceutical company that produces heat-stable Kaletra, make serious threats against Thailand after the country sought to import or make cheap generic versions of the AIDS drugs it produces.

read the background info here

A handful of People and Planet groups, including a representative from Essex demonstrated at Abbott's UK headquatres against Abbot's bullying and to reiterate the need for the availability of cheap generics if treatment is ever going to be within the reach of those who need it.

Abbott's makes us sick

P+P Campaigner talking to Abbott workers