Generic Competition, Price and Access to Medicines: The case of antiretrovirals in Uganda

Access to treatment is a key part of national strategies to combat HIV/AIDS. Antiretrovirals can increase the length and quality of life, and the productivity of patients. Research in Uganda shows that poor people will use ARVs if the price is right and if a delivery system is place. It also shows that the price of brand-name drugs fell significantly only when generics entered the market. Generic competition, the use of the public-health safeguards in the TRIPS Agreement, and urgent funding for health-service delivery are essential parts of the fight against HIV/AIDS in developing countries such as Uganda.