World AIDS Day 2024: Celebrating Mandela's Battle Against Big Pharma
Today, millions of people around the world have access to affordable ARV treatment, thanks in part to Mandela's courage and determination.
Charlotte Kilpatrick writes on her home page about the devastating effects of big pharma. She celebrates the late South African President, Nelson Mandela, for the David versus Goliath epic court battle he took head-on.
Catherine Murombedzi amplifies the issue on World AIDS Day 2024.
A Historic Look Back
On 1 December, the global village marks World AIDS Day.
The world can end AIDS if everyone’s rights are protected. With human rights at the centre and communities in the lead, the world can end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
With the theme “Take the Rights Path: My Health, My Right!”, the World Health Organisation (WHO), UNAIDS, AIDS Health Foundation (AHF), AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition (AVAC), governments, and many partners are calling on global leaders and citizens to champion the right to health by addressing the inequalities that hinder progress in ending AIDS.
In 1998, the late Nelson Mandela, the former President of South Africa, found himself at the forefront of a battle against Big Pharma.
At the time, South Africa was facing a devastating HIV/AIDS epidemic, with nearly one in five people infected and 200,000 children orphaned.
The Problem: Unaffordable Medication
The primary obstacle to treating HIV/AIDS in South Africa was the exorbitant cost of antiretroviral (ARV) medications.
Pharmaceutical companies, including 40 multinational corporations, held patents for these life-saving drugs, making them inaccessible to the majority of South Africans.
The average monthly income in South Africa at the time was around US$220, while the cost of ARV treatment was a staggering US$1,000 per month.
Mandela's Solution: Breaking the Patent Regime
Mandela's government decided to take a bold step to address the crisis.
In 1997, South Africa passed the Medicines and Related Substances Control Amendment Act, which allowed the government to break the patent regime and import cheaper generic versions of ARV medications.
The Backlash: Big Pharma Sues
In response, 40 pharmaceutical companies, including giants like Merck, Pfizer, and GlaxoSmithKline, sued the South African government in 1998.
The companies claimed that the government's actions violated international trade agreements and threatened their intellectual property rights.
The Court Case: A David vs. Goliath Battle
The court case was a highly publicised and contentious battle.
The pharmaceutical companies argued that they needed to protect their patents to recoup their research and development costs.
Mandela's government, on the other hand, argued that the high cost of ARV medications was a matter of life and death for millions of South Africans.
The Victory: Big Pharma Withdraws
After three years of intense pressure from AIDS activists, the international community, and the South African government, the pharmaceutical companies finally withdrew their lawsuit in 2001.
The South African government was able to import cheaper generic ARV medications, making treatment more accessible to millions of people.
The Legacy: A Turning Point in the Fight Against HIV/AIDS
Mandela's battle against Big Pharma marked a turning point in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
The case highlighted the need for affordable access to life-saving medications and sparked a global movement to address the issue.
Today, millions of people around the world have access to affordable ARV treatment, thanks in part to Mandela's courage and determination.
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