June 18, 2008

Advocates Demand Generic Drugs for Mexico

Advocates from several nongovernmental organizations are calling on the Mexican government to declare a “national HIV/AIDS emergency” that will allow the country to import generic antiretroviral drugs for people with HIV, according to the Apria Healthcare company’s news site (apria.com, 6/17).

The organizations have formed a coalition to seek universal access to antiretroviral medications in Mexico. According to the coalition, AIDS treatment costs up to 30 times more in Mexico than in other countries with similar per capita incomes. They say that the allowance of cheaper, generic drugs would help to save the lives of nearly 180,000 Mexicans.

According to the article, there are 8,000 to 8,500 new cases of HIV reported each year in Mexico.

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