---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Wed, 25 Oct 2000 00:15:16 EDT From: [log in to unmask] Reply-To: [log in to unmask] To: [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask] Subject: [AfricaMatters] Activist threatens to hand out AIDS drug Sunday Times South Africa 10/22/2000 Activist threatens to hand out AIDS drug JEREMY LAWRENCE THE outspoken activist Zackie Achmat, who has enraged health authorities by illegally importing cheap AIDS drugs into the country, yesterday announced plans to import and distribute the medicine to doctors in four provinces within a week. Achmat, who heads the Treatment Action Campaign, illegally imported 3 000 capsules of Biozole, a generic version of Diflucan (fluconazole) from Thailand. Diflucan sells for about R124 a capsule in SA pharmacies, but Achmat paid only R1.79 for the generic. He said Biozole capsules were sold to the state for R30 each. If the Medicines Control Council did not register the generic medicine within the next two weeks, Achmat said, he would import 2 000 more capsules and start supplying doctors in at least four provinces. "This is the responsibility of the government. Our intention is not to become a medicine distributor. We only want to illustrate the point that it would be easy to bring the tablets into the country," said Achmat, who has AIDS but has refused anti-retroviral therapy until it is freely available from the public health service. The Medicines Control Council laid an official complaint against Achmat with the police this week. Achmat and about 50 supporters, including the PAC's Patricia de Lille, reported to the police on Friday, and later handed over the 3 000 tablets to a representative of the Health Department. Police spokesman Captain Etienne Terblanche said Achmat had cooperated with investigators. "We will investigate the matter fully and the police docket will be handed over to the director of public prosecutions, who will recommend whether to prosecute," he said. -------------------------- eGroups Sponsor -------------------------~-~> eGroups eLerts It's Easy. It's Fun. Best of All, it's Free! http://click.egroups.com/1/9698/14/_/192352/_/972447328/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------_-> To the extent possible, please keep postings concise. Our archives are at : http://www.egroups.com/group/us-afr-network . To Post a message, send it to [log in to unmask] . Tell others to subscribe by sending a blank message to [log in to unmask] . To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to: [log in to unmask] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html You may also send subscription requests to [log in to unmask] if you have problems accessing the web interface and remember to write your full name and e-mail address. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------