[Nettime-bold] united states to legitimize death by patent with loans

[super89@bigfoot.com]

http://www.nytimes.com/library/world/africa/082200africa-aids.html

August 22, 2000
 
Loans to Buy AIDS Drugs Are Rejected by Africans
By  RACHEL L. SWARNS
JOHANNESBURG,  Aug. 21 -- The 
United States' offer of $1 billion in 
annual loans to finance the purchase 
of anti-AIDS drugs in sub-Saharan 
Africa has been rejected by South Africa,
one of the countries most 
devastated by the disease, health officials say.
Namibia has also rejected the offer, 
and other nations in this 
stricken region are voicing serious 
reservations, the officials say. 

South Africa, the nation with the 
largest number of people infected 
with the virus that causes AIDS, and 
Namibia said they needed affordable 
drugs, not loans that would burden 
their economies.

Officials at the Southern African 
Development Community, which 
represents 12 other countries in the 
region, along with South Africa and 
Namibia, are also expressing doubts 
about the proposal. They say they 
would prefer the United States pressure 
merican drug companies to 
reduce prices and to support countries 
that are disregarding patents 
and producing generic drugs more 
cheaply.
"Members are already burdened 
by debt," said Dr. Thuthula Balfour, 
director of the health unit of the 
Southern African Development Community,
in a telephone interview 
from Pretoria. "Making drugs affordable
is the solution rather than offering 
loans that have interest." 

(continues...)



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