Civil Society Calls On India To Backtrack On Policy Threatening Global HIV Response

The International AIDS Society made a statement today at the International AIDS Conference in Durban, South Africa, voicing concerns about India’s recent policy which, according to the group, is threatening access to HIV treatment in India and around the world.

The International AIDS Conference is taking place from 18-22 July.

The statement co-signed by a number of civil society groups, said civil society is concerned “about the closing space both for the civil society groups that have been critical in the AIDS response nationally and internationally and for the public health-supporting policies that ensure quality, affordable generic drugs for the world.”

The signatories call on the Indian government to:

• “End attacks on the Lawyers Collective and other NGOs and ensure the Foreign Contributions Regulation Act and other laws are not misused for political purposes.

• Implement policies to ensure Indian generic companies cannot be taken over by multinational pharmaceutical companies, thereby eliminating the generic competition people living with HIV and others depend on for affordable medicines.

• Resist pressure from the United States and multinational pharmaceutical companies to eliminate, undermine or cease using the critical public health safeguards in India’s Intellectual Property Laws including strict patent standards, oppositions, and compulsory licensing, that allow India to provide 90% of the world’s antiretrovirals. This includes rejecting TRIPS-plus demands in free trade agreement and bilateral investment treaty negotiations with Europe and in RCEP [Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership]”