Our
concerns are different. First, we
see intellectual property rights endangered by the producers of generic drugs
in India, Thailand, and Brazil. The WTO has made it possible for generic producers to sell
abroad. Either the US helps poor countries buy US drugs or we
lose the market. Granted, we don't sell much in poor countries, but we
need to protect important businesses in the
US as well as patents.
We
know that any government can override patents for emergencies, or in
cases of public interest or concern about anti-competition. This is
called compulsory licensing
.
Secondly,
the Harvard study
suggested the US pay $6-$10 per capita annually to to treat AIDS in
Africa; that is too much but we can manage if we rely on the private
sector. Some firms in
Africa have offered to provide
treatment for their employees and their families, but don't want to buy the
drugs. If we offer a
tax incentive for US-based corporations that provide AIDS treatment in the
Third World, that might solve problems, including infrastructure and
accountability. It also ensures protection of vital
economic personnel in African societies.
About 30% of the diamond miners, for example, are HIV+.
Without the foreign exchange from diamond exports, several African countries
are unlikely to make any economic headway. Corporations
have little reason to expend money on AIDS treatment because of high
unemployment and low training costs. It is easy to find replacement
workers. We can lean on them to give treatment if we give them a tax
break.
Likewise,
we should consider a tax incentive for corporations that donate drugs for AIDS
in Africa. And how about a tax break for support programs: Pfizer
is setting up an institute in Uganda to train doctors and other personnel in
detecting the lethal cryptococcal meningitis that can attack the HIV positive.
Pfizer is donating Diflucan for treatment, but needs to train their
people in giving spinal taps for testing.
That program is worth supporting.
Why not give them a tax
incentive as well?
We
don't think the US should give billions to the global fund. We can do
more good with less money by giving tax-breaks to corporations to carry out
anti-AIDS programs. We think the costs
are manageable.
