super89 on 22 Aug 2000 14:10:05 -0000 |
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[Nettime-bold] united states to legitimize death by patent with loans |
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...) _______________________________________________ Nettime-bold mailing list [email protected] http://www.nettime.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/nettime-bold