A report from the interfaith pre-conference to AIDS 2012, the 19th international Aids conference, by Alan Bain

Those dying from AIDS-related illnesses have waited long enough for a response from a pharmaceutical industry dragging its feet in search of profits, Interfaith Pre-Conference participants, meeting in advance of AIDS 2012, were told today.

David Deakin, from Tearfund in the UK, and himself once a worker in the industry, spoke of the 15-year battle between 1996 and 2003. He said, '10 million allegedly died from AIDS then as a direct result of the intransigence of the pharmaceutical industry. They have a systemic problem that needs to change.'

'We supply 8 million patients now with ART (Antiretroviral Therapy ) but by 2030 this will rise to 50 million,' Deakin noted. 'With second and third line drugs (required when patients become resistant to first line drugs) things will only get harder.  
'Today, 4,657 people will die of AIDS - mainly due to lack of access to appropriate drugs,' he said.

Over 400 people of faith attended the interfaith pre-conference to AIDS 2012, titled 'Taking Action for Health, Dignity, and Justice', on Friday and Saturday (20-21) July at Howard University, Washington, DC.   

Esteban Burrone, policy advisor of the Medicines Patent Pool set up in 2010 to promote access to affordable HIV medicines in developing countries, pointed out, 'What use are expensive second and third line drugs to patients who can't afford them? We invite the industry to sit down and discuss how they can bring down prices.'

Mr Burrone spoke of the royalties involved and bilateral licences offered in secret and called for more transparency. 'We have taken the first step in a long march,' he said. 'We need to bring the PI to the negotiating table, learn from our own mistakes, find a solution and work collaboratively and voluntarily. I am convinced the pharmaceutical industry can do more.'

Dr Lalthanmawia from the Christian Medical Association of India spoke of the challenges in his country where he said that they would need many more second-line drugs by the end of 2012 but treatment depended on funding available. He said, 'We are seeing international companies taking over drug patents and second line drugs are now six times more expensive than first line.
'We should put on pressure to stop licensing which blocks access for poorer countries.'

He concluded, 'We need to be more people-centric rather than concentrating on products - second line drugs need to be more accessible.'

Ruth Messinger, President of the American Jewish World Service pointed out 'every person not treated is an unnecessary death. The US spent $225 million each day on the war in Iraq, $18 million each day on their pets. The issue is not funding but priorities and they have to change.'

Deakin asked for an immediate response using the social networking site Twitter to target eight pharmaceutical companies who are not willing to enter negotiations with the Medicine Patent Pool. Giving out their addresses he asked delegates to message,  "Ppl of faith say global access now! Put yr #HIV meds in #the pool!".

Using the words from Isaiah, the Old Testament prophet, 'The Lord saw no justice and no one to intervene', Deakin called for people of faith to not stand back but to intervene.

Individuals are still encouraged to join the Twitter action by tweeting from their accounts:
Ppl of faith say global access now! Put yr #HIV meds in #thePool! @JNJComm @Merck @AbbottNews @bmsnews @ViiVUS @Boehringer @GSK @pfizer_news

AIDS 2012 is the 19th International AIDS Conference and the first to be held in the United States for over 20 years. IACs are held every two years and are the peak forum for those working in the field of HIV and AIDS, including scientists and researchers, policymakers, health professionals, people living with HIV, civil society activists and faith-based organizations.  
AIDS 2012 is taking place 22-27 July at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. See also www.aids2012.org.

The Revd Alan Bain has been an Anglican minister since 1978 and has been Vicar of St Philip and St James Bath since 1981. He became involved with HIV and AIDS as a result of his church's involvement with Uganda, South Africa, Eastern Europe and India over the last 20 years. He is a founder member and Chair of  CHAA (The Christian HIV/AIDS Alliance) which brings together eighteen of the major UK agencies working in the field of HIV and AIDS. He has also been a broadcaster with the BBC.