19 June 2000
The South African Communist Party (SACP) in KwaZulu Natal (KZN) fully endorses the picket against Pfizer to be held tomorrow in front of Pfizer offices in Pietermaritzburg. This picket is organised by the Treatment Action Campaign.
Two months ago, the drug company Pfizer offered to donate fluconazole free of charge to people with HIV/AIDS in South Africa. In welcoming this offer, we hoped that drug companies had learnt that people’s lives were more important than profits. HIV/AIDS ac tivists have learnt that Pfizer will limit their donation to a period of two and a half years—the exact period when their fluconazole patent or exclusive licence to sell will expire – and that Pfizer will refuse to include countries other than South Africa in the offer.
By doing this, Pfizer is condemning countless people to suffering and possible death because they cannot afford the unreasonable price that the company is putting on the drug.
HIV has led to the premature death of more than 10 million people across the world. Access to treatment is essential in order to save lives.
We urge the Minister of Health to continue the negotiations to accept the Pfizer donation because it will help save lives, while all of us engage in mass action to make Pfizer reason and win affordable HIV/AIDS treatment for all.
CONTACT
Smiso Nkwanyana
SACP KwaZulu Natal Provincial Secretary
Tel: 031 301 3086
Fax: 031 301 5470
Cell: 082 468 7184