India to campaign for cheap anti-AIDS drugs

MELBOURNE, OCT. 10. India has said it would launch a campaign to keep anti-AIDS drugs out of the purview of the World Trade Organisation to make the medicines available to the poor at affordable prices.

``AIDS is a global problem. We would put pressure to keep anti- AIDS drugs out of the purview of the WTO so that affordable drugs can be made available to the poor,'' the Union Health Minister, Dr. C.P. Thakur, who is here for the 33-Nation Sixth International Congress on HIV/AIDS in Asia and Pacific, said.

``We have advised the Commerce Ministry to take up the matter at the WTO meeting to be held in Doha. We would also put pressure to make production of these drugs generic to bring down costs,'' he said.

The Government is striving to make anti-AIDS drugs available through public health system beginning with targeting people Below the Poverty Line. ``In India, we have already lifted the excise and customs duties and the States have agreed to remove the sales tax on anti-AIDS drugs.''

Dr. Thakur said India would be promoting medical tourism with Australia exchanging medical and health experts and treatment between the two countries.

- PTI

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