World

UK aid to India for cheap AIDS drug

by Sanjay Jha | November 18, 2008 at 03:50 am

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India has one of the highest HIV/AIDS patients base and the United States National Intelligence Council predicts that the number of people infected in India could jump to between 20 million and 25 million by 2010. Availability of cheap AIDS drug is a major problem. Sensing the severity of the problem British government in tandem with Clinton foundation has promised to help Indian pharmaceutical companies produce cheaper drugs for malaria and AIDS.

The UK Secretary of State for International Development Douglas Alexander MP announced this, saying the proposed nine million pounds programme to be implemented between 2009 and 2012 would provide technical support to Indian companies in producing and registering new treatments for AIDS and malaria
, and negotiate affordable prices for these drugs.

The move will help over 11 million people with AIDS gain access to life saving treatment by 2012.

"Three million people died of HIV/AIDS in 2007, and every year, there are over one million deaths from malaria," Alexander said.