UNGeneral Assembly on AIDS: Sinha calls for cheaper medicines for AIDS

[Guest guest]

India calls for cheaper medicines for AIDS 23-September-2003

UNITED NATIONS: India has called for increased international assistance to

developing countries, access to affordable medicines and accelerated medical

research to combat AIDS which has devastated societies especially in Africa.

Asking the international community to look at innovative mechanisms to raise

resources, External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha expressed support for a

tax on short term investments which, he said, would encourage long term

investments and also raise resources that could be used in such area as the

fight against diseases.

" It is evident that political intervention and the adoption of national

strategies, while essential, do not by themselves ensure achievement of

impact targets " for 2005 and 2010 set by the world leaders, " Sinha told the

special session of the United Nations General Assembly on AIDS held a day

before start of the high level segment. While primary responsibility for

dealing with AIDS rest with national governments, " we believe there is

greater need for international solidarity and burden sharing, " Sinha told

the special session of the United Nations General Assembly on AIDS held a

day before start of the high level segment. Sinha said the Assembly had

expressed resolve to reach overall goal of an annual expenditure of between

seven billion and ten billion dollars in developing countries through

national budgets and contribution from donors by 2005. " While a wide array

of strategies is required to forge a multi-sectoral response, the crux

remains the need for implementation of commitments by both developing and

developed nations, he said.

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