Health GAP
www.healthgap.org

For Immediate Release 13 July 2004
Contact: Robert Dabney +05 08 86 112, rdabney@healthgap.org

US GOVT. ACCOUNTING OFFICE TO WHITE HOUSE: BUSH REQUIREMENTS FOR BIG PHARMA DRUGS OBSTRUCTS POOR COUNTRIES EFFORTS TO TREAT AIDS

(Bangkok) Š The non-partisan U.S. Congressional agency charged with maintaining the accountability of government programs delivered a simple message to President George Bush this week: the PresidentÕs Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) is not delivering on its promises.

The release of the report of the Government Accountability Office (GAO), was timed to coincide with the XV International AIDS Conference in Bangkok and described a series of internal problems plaguing the $15 billion (US) program. The report on PEPFAR, the Bush program targeting 2 million people for ARV treatment in 15 countries, described a program rife with administrative chaos and riddled with restrictions that have crippled service delivery.

The GAO interviewed 28 field staff from two government agencies responsible for on-the-ground implementation of the presidentÕs plan. The staffs from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) were asked to identify the challenges they faced in getting help to people living with HIV/AIDS in the targeted areas. Of the 28 staff interviewed, 25 cited policy constraints imposed by PEPFAR in the procurement of affordable generic drugs as a major limitation on the treatment scale-up efforts in developing countries.

"Bush is selling compassion to American voters this election year, but the real agenda of the White House has been to create a slush-fund for US drug companies," said Paul Davis, domestic policy director for the U.S.-based advocacy group Health GAP (Global Access Project). "The Administration must immediately pledge $30 billion for global AIDS by 2008 and lift the ideological restrictions on the use of affordable generics and condom usage."

"A pattern is developing during this conference," continued Davis. "The U.S. governmentÕs own watchdog group says the Bush program is not working. United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan says the program is not working. Scientists, fund recipients and activists say the program is not working. Its time for the President to admit what is clear to the world. PEPFAR is not working."

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