Liberals set to export generic AIDS drugs to poor nations
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The liberals are finally thinking about a policy that would allow Canada to help out nations with AIDS epidemics by sending drugs to them. These would be cheaper, generic drugs made in Canada. Both Jean Chretian and Paul Martin believe this to be a good idea. Stephen Lewis, special UN envoy on HIV and AIDS in Africa, challenged Canada to help out these devastated countries, mangled by AIDS, by giving them a cheap source of drugs. Pharmacies and developed countries have resisted this happening in the past with the fear that the cheap drugs would make their way into richer countries that are not in need like Africa and other Third World countries. The legislation in the making would not only cover drugs for AIDS, but for tuberculosis and malaria as well. NDP MP Libby Davies has been quoted as saying the NDP has always been pushing to amend the existing drug patent law, and says that cheaper drugs should also be made available for cancer, diabetes and other such diseases in the Third World.
This is an issue that is interconnected with many other world issues. Cheaper drugs in these countries will lead to better health, and possibly the next step will be education. Technological globalization is obviously not too far off, as the world is trying to even out the technology they have in medicine to help out those countries without it...