Clinton Foundation HIV/AIDS initiative is likely to strike a deal with the Indian government to assist the latter in developing a comprehensive system to fight AIDS epidemic in the country. Clinton Foundation, headed by former US President Bill Clinton, will be holding discussions with the central government in the coming days. Bill Clinton is meeting the prime minister over a luncheon meeting today.

Addressing a press conference, Clinton said that he hoped for an announcement in this regard within a few days. The former US president acknowledged the support he received from Indian generic manufacturers in helping his dream of setting up a global forum to help fight the menace of AIDS. “But for the support of Indian generic drug manufacturers, my plans would have remained a dream”, he said.

All Indian generic ARV manufacturers possessing World Health Organisation certification have joined hands with Clinton Foundation in his efforts. As per the agreement, these companies are to supply anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs) at one-third to one-half the current price of drugs in the developing world. While Ranbaxy, Cipla and Matrix were among the first to sign the agreement with Clinton Foundation, Hetero Labs, the forth-major player in the segment also joined fray today. Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Ltd of Johannesburg, South Africa is the fifth company who had signed the agreement with the foundation last month.

The agreement covers antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) delivered to people in Africa and the Caribbean where the Clinton Foundation HIV/AIDS Initiative is working with governments and organizations to set up country-wide integrated care, treatment and prevention programs. It is hoped that up to two million people will be receiving medicine by the year 2008.

Clinton hoped that the number of persons who can be benefited from the programme could increase substantially if more governments come forward to partner with the foundation to initiate the programme in their countries. “Our aim is to convince the governments in developing countries that treatment for AIDS is viable and affordable. We are not involved into the purchase of drugs but will help these countries source the best medicines at the cheapest rates. We will also see that a comprehensive system is in place for the effective delivery of these drugs to the patients. Proper diagnosis of the disease is also important”, he said.

The foundation is in touch with the Chinese government and hopes to launch similar initiatives in all developing countries. The agreement allows the Foundation to commit to the governments the supply of triple drug therapy combinations for less than $140 per person per year (Which means 36-to-38 cents per person per day). The governments’ can source the medicines from any of these companies for the agreed price. Overall, the Clinton Foundation agreement will be reducing by one-third to one-half the current price of drugs in the developing world.

The Clinton Foundation has been working towards this agreement over the past seven months, focusing on ways to reduce costs and scale up production of the so-called "triple drug cocktails," which can substantially extend the lives of people living with AIDS and help prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

Along with its drug procurement activities, the Clinton Foundation HIV/AIDS Initiative is pioneering a new approach to launching robust and comprehensive systems for HIV and AIDS care and treatment in the developing world. A coalition of volunteer experts in business; health care management and education; and AIDS care, treatment and research form multidisciplinary teams that provide technical assistance to governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the private sector.

The Clinton Foundation is working in close cooperation with the World Health Organization and UNAIDS on the "3 by 5" program to scale-up AIDS care and treatment. It is also working with other organizations, such as the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Through its collaboration with the WHO, UNAIDS and the Global Fund, the Foundation hopes to extend the benefits of this program to other countries and organizations that provide treatment in the developing world and that have instituted appropriate safeguards.

All Indian partners to the initiative addressed the press conference organized at the R&D Centre of Ranbaxy Laboratories. Representatives from Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Ltd, South Africa were also present.