GOZ EXTENDS EMERGENCY ON HIV/AIDS

UNCLAS HARARE 000289

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR G, OES/IHA, OES/PCI, AF/S, AF/EPS, IO/T
WHITE HOUSE FOR ONAP
USAID FOR AFR/AA/AIDW AND BUREAU FOR GLOBAL HEALTH
DHHS FOR OFFICE OF GLOBAL HEALTH AFFAIRS
GENEVA FOR USTR
STATE PASS USTR FOR BURCKY, IVES, WEISEL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KHIV ETRD ZI
SUBJECT: GOZ EXTENDS EMERGENCY ON HIV/AIDS



1. The Government of Zimbabwe declared, in a statutory
instrument in the January 17 Government Gazette, an emergency
on HIV/AIDS for a period of five years effective from 1
January 2003. The emergency declaration allows the State or
persons authorized in writing by the Minister of Justice,
Legal and Parliamentary Affairs under the Patents Act
(a) to make or use any patented drug, including any
antiretroviral drug used in the treatment of persons
suffering from HIV/AIDS;
(b) to import generic drugs used in the treatment of
persons suffering from HIV/AIDS.
With the extension of the declaration of emergency--Zimbabwe
first declared a six-month emergency in May 2002--Zimbabwe
can get around patent restrictions to more easily access
patented HIV/AIDS drugs.


2. Comment: Even with this declaration of emergency,
Zimbabwe, which has one of the highest adult HIV infection
rates, will have a difficult time both producing and
importing drugs. The economic crisis has crippled the health
care industry and the shortage of foreign exchange limits the
GOZ's ability to import drugs, even generics produced under
compulsory license from third countries. End Comment.
SULLIVAN