Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2003. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
South African Press Association (Johannesburg) - April 28, 2003
The reduction will drop the price of Combivir, an HIV/AIDS treatment recommended by the World Health Organisation, to 90 cents a day in 63 developing countries, including South Africa.
The pharmaceutical company announced it would also reduce the price of Epivir, commonly known at 3TC and Retrovir, also known as AZT, by 45 percent and 38 percent respectively.
TAC spokesman Nathan Geffen told Sapa on Monday the price reduction was not being made available to pharmacies which was where most patients obtained their medication.
"Only about a 1000 people get their medication through the public health system. Most people get their medication in the private sector."
Geffen said the only way of keeping prices substantially low was through generic competition.
He said GlaxoSmithKline also needed to clarify if it was going to lower the price of Lamibudine. Combivir is made up of AZT and Lamibudine.
"Often doctors want to prescribe the Lamibudine without the AZT. Lamibudine is excessively priced. Are they going to lower its price?"
Geffen said Glaxo had not lowered the prices because "they were nice people" but because of pressure brought on them by activists around the world.
"This pressure cannot be maintained forever. We need to introduce generic competition," he said.
He said while Glaxo's action was insufficient, the positive side was that the drugs were being offered to employers who were treating their workers who were not part of medical aid plans.
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