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