Kenya AIDS Activists Protest at New Drug Proposal

Hundreds of AIDS activists and patients marched through Kenya's capital on Tuesday to protest a bill that would require the government to seek drug patent holders' permission prior to purchasing generic drugs. Refused by police permission to enter Parliament, the protesters, shouting and carrying signs reading "MPs, save our lives," "You talk, we die," and "Life before profit," lay across busy streets and caused a large traffic jam in Nairobi.

"I am not working, I live in the slums and if coming up with rent is a problem for me, how will I live if I have to pay for drugs for myself and my baby?" asked Susan Atieno, 25.

If approved, the law would cut generic drug access to Kenyans, many of whom earn less than $1 daily, for the treatment of HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria, activists said. In July, President Mwai Kibaki pledged free antiretroviral drugs would be provided to government hospitals and health centers. But the generic drugs issue is of grave importance for those who must take ARVs for life, said activists.

"Kenya will witness a drastic increase in prices for various drugs ... making medicines far out of the reach of [the] majority of Kenyans," said Ignatius Kibe, a march organizer. For example, Kibe said, brand-name nevirapine used to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission costs $14.44 per dose, compared to its $2.05 generic counterpart.

The legislative proposal has no clear parliamentary supporters, as it was added by the attorney general as an amendment to a wider bill scheduled for debate on Thursday. The legislation runs counter to the general trend involving world trade in developing countries. The Health Ministry does not support the bill, said James Nyikal, its director of medical services.

In 2004, 7 percent of Kenya's 32 million people had HIV/AIDS, down from 14 percent in 2000, the National AIDS Control Council said.

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