The Brazilian experiment: HIV drugs for all
Flaer, P.J.; Younis, M.Z.
Journal of Health Care Finance 36(2): 90-96
2009
ISSN/ISBN: 1078-6767 PMID: 20499725 Document Number: 213008
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.