BOTSWANA: Still no guidelines for generic AIDS drugs

International health officials attending a conference in Botswana had failed to reach an agreement on global guidelines for low-cost generic HIV/AIDS drugs after US officials raised concerns about their safety, the Associated Press news agency reported.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) said fixed-dose combination drugs containing three medicines in one pill were considerably cheaper than their patented equivalents and a key part of its plan to treat 3 million people in developing countries by 2005.

However, US officials questioned whether WHO's screening process was stringent enough, and expressed concern that widespread, inappropriate distribution of the drugs could lead to drug resistance.

Organisers of the Conference on Fixed-Dose Combination Drug Products plan to publish their deliberations for comment by 19 April.

Theme (s): Care/Treatment - PlusNews, Children,

[This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]