AHF Praises Colombia for Putting Lives Before Pharma Greed

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AIDS Healthcare Foundation applauds the government of Colombia for issuing a compulsory license on HIV drug dolutegravir, which will allow the country to access affordable generic versions of the treatment as an alternative to the costly branded version produced by ViiV Healthcare.

“Colombia is fully within its rights to issue a compulsory license by exercising the flexibilities under the World Trade Organization rules in the interest of public health of its citizens. In practical terms, this means the government will now be able to treat 27 people with generics for the cost of one branded regimen. Thousands of lives and valuable health resources will be saved,” said AHF Director of Global Advocacy and Policy Guillermina Alaniz. “We salute the government of Colombia for putting the lives of people living with HIV ahead of pharma greed. We also thank members of civil society who advocated tirelessly for this decision. Our hope is that other countries in Latin America and the Caribbean who face similar monopolistic roadblocks to vital affordable medicines will follow Colombia’s example.”

AHF began work in San José de Cúcuta, Colombia in 2018 in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Social Protection in response to the emergency migration between Venezuela and Colombia. AHF has provided HIV screening services to more than 195,000 people in Colombia and HIV treatment to nearly 5,000 patients. AHF Colombia currently serves 2,755 patients and operates clinics in Bogotá, Bucaramanga, Riohacha, Valledupar, Cartagena, and Cúcuta. More information about AHF Colombia is available at www.pruebagratisdevih.co.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global AIDS organization, currently provides medical care and/or services to over 1.9 million clients in 47 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific Region and Europe. To learn more about AHF, please visit our website: www.aidshealth.org, find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/aidshealth and follow us on Twitter: @aidshealthcare and Instagram: @aidshealthcare