The Brazilian experiment: HIV drugs for all.
The World Health Organization Joint Report of 2007 (WHO/UNAIDS/UNICEF) estimated that in developing world economies, 2 million people with HIV/AIDS were being treated with antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) out of the 7 million needing treatment. The ongoing political and humanistic movement in Brazil highly relates to health care provision, especially to treatment of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. "Compulsory licensing" (patent breaking) was used by Brazil to manufacture and import HIV/AIDS drugs. The Brazilian government provided top-of-the-line antiretroviral drugs in the form of HAART (highly active antiretroviral therapy) to all needing treatment for HIV/AIDS. Subsequently, the international community found Brazil as an eager "poster child" in the universal access movement for HIV/AIDS drugs. However, can this program of justice and humanity in Brazil be feasible when applied to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in other developing world countries? It is worth exploring.
Flaer
Paul J
PJ
Stempel College of Public Health, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA.
Younis
Mustafa Z
MZ
D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000191:economics* / Q000600:supply & distribution* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000191:economics*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003906:Developing Countries; D004345:Drug Industry / Q000191:economics; D005380:Financing, Government; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006291:Health Policy / Q000191:economics* / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D010330:Patents as Topic; D019472:Universal Health Insurance / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards; D014944:World Health Organization
D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents