Editor:
A clear consensus emerged from the 2012 international AIDS conference in Washington this summer.
We can end AIDS. It is within our current scientific knowledge to do so. All that can stop us now is indecision and lack of courage.
Fortunately, federal Conservative Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq does not suffer from this lack of courage. She has stated that there is “no lack of political will in Canada to make drug therapy available to those infected domestically and internationally.”
A bit of history of drug therapy for AIDS internationally: In 2004, Canadian legislation to allow developing countries to order affordable generic medicines from Canadian companies passed unanimously in the House of Commons.
It was a three-way win: It would have provided brand name patent holders the royalties from their discoveries, while generic manufacturers would enjoy continuing employment and Canada’s humanitarian reputation would have been enhance without a dime of taxpayer’s money.
Since then, only one Canadian generic manufacturer has shipped one order to one country. No company will do so again until the government removed the red tape that made the process unworkable.
In 2011, a bill to reform this flawed act passed in the House of Commons. This bill (C-393) would have streamlined the process for the manufacture and distribution of HIV/AIDS medicines to developing countries. Unfortunately, it died in the senate when the last federal election was called.
Meanwhile, millions continue to die and become infected in sub-Saharan Africa and around the world because of the lack of medicines.
A similar bill (C-398) will come before the House. I hope that Leona Aglukkaq and her government colleagues, including our MP Blake Richards, will show the courage necessary to pass it speedily and truly “turn the tide” of AIDS in Africa.
Jim and Molly Stevenson,
Canmor
