Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2001. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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New Vision (Kampala) - November 29, 2001
Dr Kihumuro Apuuli, the Director General of Uganda Aids Commission told a press conference yesterday in Kampala that the decision is intended to arrest a global HIV/AIDS catastrophe.
He said the new arrangement is to be referred to as the Trade Related Intellectual Rights ( TRIPS).
Kihumuro said the arrangement would also enable such countries to manufacture tuberculosis and malaria drugs.
"It means that big multinational companies which carried out research on HIV/AIDS anti-retroviral have lifted patent rights to those countries, including Uganda, to import and make copies of their drugs," Kihumuro said.
Anti-retroviral drugs are given to HIV/AIDS patients to boost their immunity and prolong life. Over 5000 Ugandans are using the drugs.
However, the majority of infected people cannot afford the cost of the drugs. Each dose costs about sh200,000 per month.
Kihumuro said the offer would enable the cost to be lowered if the drugs are locally manufactured.
Prof. Francis Omaswa, the director general for health services, recently said many local pharmaceutical firms had applied for licences from the government to manufacture anti-retroviral drugs locally.
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