Promise of affordable AIDS drugs

UGANDA: Promise of affordable AIDS drugs

JOHANNESBURG, 4 Nov 2004 (PLUSNEWS) - A partnership between Uganda's Quality Chemicals and Indian drug manufacturer Cipla will make anti-AIDS drugs more affordable for HIV-positive Ugandans.

The managing director of Quality Chemicals, Emmanuel Katongole, said AIDS-related illness mostly claimed the lives of poor people because they could not afford the high cost of antiretrovirals, and even a 50 percent reduction in prices would mean a 100 percent increase in number of people receiving treatment.

A local newspaper, The Monitor, quoted Katongole as saying: "We promise to continue [assisting all] people pushing for lower prices of antiretrovirals until it's affordable to all who need them."

[ENDS]

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