| current issue |
 |
| gay mundo |
| bush plus |
| race/class |
| nyc |
| africa |
| americas |
| asia |
| europe |
| arts series |
|
| gully español |
|
| about us |
| contact us |
| submit |
| subscribe |
| letters |
| archive |
| action resources |
|
| search |
|
Feb. 12, 2001. The United States has recently denounced Brazil before the World Trade Organization (WTO) for violation of pharmaceutical patents, and wants Brazil to stop manufacturing inexpensive generic drugs that are saving the lives of hundreds of thousands of Brazilians with HIV/AIDS.
The Brazilian HIV/AIDS program, which relies on these locally produced generic drugs, has been recognized as one of the most successful in the world. Brazil has offered to share it with other developing countries. So, why is the U.S. government attacking it?
Apparently, to protect the fabulous profits of the big pharmaceutical multinationals, who sell the drug cocktail for between $10,000 to $15,000 per year, while Brazil produces it at a fraction of that cost. Brazil said that the U.S. complaint "lacked all legal foundation" and "could become politically disastrous."
A coalition of about 100 Brazilian HIV/AIDS organizations are now trying to mobilize international support to persuade the U.S. to back down.
The Gully In Depth
New World
Our Americas. Politics, democracies, failed utopias, and the sullen heirs of colonialism: from Canada to Argentina.