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Abstract
The costs of Antiretrovirals (ARV) medicines in Brazil from 1996 to 2003
K M Sakita, P J Dutra, E F Malheiros, R L Scapini
Brazilian STD/AIDS Programme, BrasÃlia, Brazil
Issues: The reduction of prices of the ARV drugs purchased by the Ministry of Health (MoH) from 1996 to 2003 were obtained because there is local manufactured drugs and also due to our universal, free of charge access to ARV policy, which facilitates our negotiations with international pharmaceutical companies that are exclusive producers. These strategies have been contributing for the maintenance of the universal access to ARV drugs.
Description: During the 1990s the Brazilian Government initiated the ARV therapy policy with the provision, free of charge, of ZDV capsules. From 1996 to 2003, whit the distribution of PI, the number of patients receiving ARV in the Public Health System increased from 10,000 to 140,000, raising costs from US$ 39 million to US$ 179 million for the same period, despite the increasing number of patients using more expensive and complex therapeutic schemes. Currently, the MoH provides 15 ARV drugs (6 NRTI, 2 NNRTI and 7 PI) in 31 pharmaceutical versions. Prices of ARV drugs acquired in local currency (reais) were converted to U$ dollars on the basis of the average exchange rate of the respective year. The prices of ARV acquired by MoH have been decreasing over the last few years. From 1996 to 1997, the mean cost for patient/year in ARV therapy increased, as a result of PI distribution. After that it decreased in 67%.
Lessons learned: The reduction in prices occurred due to the ARV currently manufactured in Brazil, by private companies and national laboratories. In addition the negotiation with international pharmaceutical companies contributed greatly for the reduction of prices of triple therapies (approximately 70%).
Recommendations: The right to life is the first of all the natural rights of the human being. Therefore, there must be international mobilisation to force the pharmaceutical companies to transfer the technology to other countries in favour of the HIV patient.
The XV International AIDS Conference
Abstract no.
TuPeE5449
Suggested Citation
" K M Sakita, et al.
The costs of Antiretrovirals (ARV) medicines in Brazil from 1996 to 2003.
Poster Exhibition:
The XV International AIDS Conference:
Abstract no.
TuPeE5449"
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