Developing countries team up to share knowledge against AIDS
The idea of establishing a Technological Network among developing and emerging countries with the human resources and skills required for manufacturing drugs emerged at the United Nations General Assembly on AIDS in 2003. On that occasion, the need to define cooperation mechanisms to take full advantage of these resources and skills in a joint endeavor was clearly identified.
The main objective of the Technological Network on HIV/AIDS includes the following: to increase access to drugs and other pharmaceutical inputs for the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS (condoms, microbycides, vaccines, and laboratory kits). Indeed, the Network also aims to reinforce technical skills amongst member countries and to enhance their skills in order to make full use of the flexibilities related the management of Intellectual Property Rights as set forth in the TRIPS Agreement (trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights) and enshrined in the Doha Declaration, such as the use of voluntary and compulsory licensing.
At the World Health Assembly held in Geneva from 17-22 May 2004, representatives of 8 countries (South Africa, Brazil, China, India, Nigeria, Russia, Thailand and Ukraine) reaffirmed their commitment to setting up the Network. At the same meeting, the Ford Foundation - convinced of the usefulness of the initiative - undertook to invest 1 million US dollars in the Network. Two months after the Assembly had taken place, six of the countries (South Africa and India desisted) agreed to sign a Joint Declaration of Commitment in the course of the XV International AIDS Conference held in Bangkok, Thailand, on 11-16 July 2004. In 2005, Argentina and Cuba joined the Technological Network on HIV/AIDS.
The main subjects highlighted by the Declaration of Commitment among the signatory countries are the following:
The idea of establishing a Technological Network among developing and emerging countries with the human resources and skills required for manufacturing drugs emerged at the United Nations General Assembly on AIDS in 2003. On that occasion, the need to define cooperation mechanisms to take full advantage of these resources and skills in a joint endeavor was clearly identified.
The main objective of the Technological Network on HIV/AIDS includes the following: to increase access to drugs and other pharmaceutical inputs for the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS (condoms, microbycides, vaccines, and laboratory kits). Indeed, the Network also aims to reinforce technical skills amongst member countries and to enhance their skills in order to make full use of the flexibilities related the management of Intellectual Property Rights as set forth in the TRIPS Agreement (trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights) and enshrined in the Doha Declaration, such as the use of voluntary and compulsory licensing.
At the World Health Assembly held in Geneva from 17-22 May 2004, representatives of 8 countries (South Africa, Brazil, China, India, Nigeria, Russia, Thailand and Ukraine) reaffirmed their commitment to setting up the Network. At the same meeting, the Ford Foundation - convinced of the usefulness of the initiative - undertook to invest 1 million US dollars in the Network. Two months after the Assembly had taken place, six of the countries (South Africa and India desisted) agreed to sign a Joint Declaration of Commitment in the course of the XV International AIDS Conference held in Bangkok, Thailand, on 11-16 July 2004. In 2005, Argentina and Cuba joined the Technological Network on HIV/AIDS.
The main subjects highlighted by the Declaration of Commitment among the signatory countries are the following:
- The production of antiretroviral drugs and other medicines for the treatment of opportunistic infections with a view to making the drugs accessible for all, price reductions and the rational and effective use of generic medicines;
- Research, development and manufacture of vaccines and microbycides;
- The development and production of raw materials for manufacturing microbycides and biological materials, especially regarding research and development of rapid tests, CD4 tests, viral load tests and genotyping.