Activistas contra el SIDA exigen un boicot global contra Abbot por detener su venta de medicamentos en Tailandia
Activistas en lucha contra el SIDA de todo el mundo se reunirán en Illinois el viernes para protestar afuera de la reunión anual de la junta de accionistas de la empresa “Abbot Laboratories”. Abbot fabrica varias drogas importantes contra el SIDA pero ha estado enredada en una controversia por sus acciones en Tailandia, donde decidió retener medicamentos por una disputa comercial.
Thursday, April 26th, 2007
AIDS Activists Call for Global Boycott of Abbott for Withholding Drug Sales in Thailand
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AIDS activists from around the globe are converging in Illinois on Friday to protest outside the annual shareholders meeting of the pharmaceutical company Abbott Laboratories. Abbott manufactures several leading AIDS drugs but has been embroiled in controversy over its actions in Thailand, where it moved to withhold medicines from the country over a commercial dispute. [includes rush transcript]
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AIDS activists from around the United States and the world are converging in Illinois on Friday to protest outside the annual shareholders meeting of the pharmaceutical company Abbott Laboratories.
Abbott manufactures several leading AIDS drugs but has been embroiled in controversy over its actions in Thailand. Earlier this year the Thai government announced it would begin importing or producing cheaper, generic copies of Abbott's AIDS drug Kaletra.
Under international trade law, countries can issue what's known as compulsory licenses to manufacture or import generic drugs. This can be done without the consent of the foreign patent owner if the country deems it necessary to protect the health and welfare of its citizens.
Abbott responded in a way that shocked many AIDS activists - the company announced it would withhold seven new drugs from sale in Thailand including a new AIDS drugs and treatments for arthritis and high blood pressure.
Activists said it was unprecedented for a drug company to withhold medicines from a country over a commercial dispute.
The fight between the Thai government and Abbott has been closely watched by AIDS activists and the international medical community.
After coming under intense pressure, Abbott appears to be backing down on some of its original threats but only if Thailand agrees not to break the drug patents.
Jon Ungphakorn, longtime HIV/AIDS activist and former Thai Senator. He is the Executive Secretary of the AIDS Access Foundation and has been at the forefront of the civil society movement in Thailand to increase access to affordable medicines and improve public health.
Dr. Joia Mukherjee, medical director of Partners In Health and assistant professor at Harvard Medical School. She has overseen HIV/AIDS treatment programs in Haiti and in Rwanda.
Anuja Singh, student at Columbia University and member of the Student Global AIDS Campaign.
www.democracynow.org
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