Re: Indian representation at the Global Fund (GFATM) Board !

[Guest guest]

[Readers are invited to propose specific actions to be taken by

Indian AIDS NGOs, NACO and the Government. Moderator]

Dear Forum members,

It is nice to note that someone has raised the voice, at last.

We Indians and largely almost all Asians are used to the

attitude of submissiveness and patience. Asia inhabitates

60% of the world population and nearly 25% of HIV infections

(my estimate of HIV in India; which has been deliberately

downplayed to 4 million or less for variety of reasons since

1997, is 10 million if not more).

Most important is the incidence (rate of new infections) of

HIV in Asia is much more than that of African countries,

though the prevalence (rate of cumulative infections) is

much more in Africa.

At the time of selection for NGO representatives for

GFATM, there were several congratulatory messages for

those selected and raising the issue of Asians or Indians

would have been seen out of place.

However, now as the dust is setlled down, we must raise the issue

equivocally from the region.

The second anomaly in the NGO selection was that two of the

three were given to HIV+ve people, while only one seat was

reserved for HIV+ person out of the three NGOs.

No doubt that the importance of HIV+ person on the board is

much more pertinent, but then an additional seat for NGO

can be created on the board.

The other possible issue regarding why Indian or Asian NGO

representative is not selected is, the the indifference of

GFATM and the donor countries of the board.

India, Thailand and China being the front runner countries

in the world in providing cheaper ART and diagnostics

circumventing patents, certainly irks the powerfull

multi-national pharma lobby which pulls the

strings / calls the shots of the board.

Ironically, India is not listed as a priority country in

receiving subsidised ART drugs either in UNAIDS list or

the GFATM.

Till date GFATM as well as UNAIDS has not taken a decisive

stand on supplying ART from Generic companies, again under

pressure from the MNCs.

Dr.I.S.Gilada

People's Health Organisation (India)

ihoaids@...

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