PHA-Exchange> AIDS Organizations Raise Grave Concerns About Tobias

[Maria Hamlin Zúniga]

Asunto: AIDS Organizations Raise Grave Concerns About Tobias


September 30, 2003 09:29 AM US Eastern Timezone

AIDS Organizations Raise Grave Concerns in Anticipation of Ex-Pharma CEO's
Confirmation as Head of Bush AIDS Plan

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 30, 2003--A coalition of AIDS advocacy
organizations including Health GAP, Global AIDS Alliance, Africa Action,
Student Global AIDS Campaign, AIDS Policy Project, Center for Health and
Gender Equity and the Washington Office on Africa, demanded answers today to
critical questions regarding the confirmation of Randall ("Randy") Tobias as
head of the Bush global AIDS program. Tobias, who will begin confirmation
hearings September 30 in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is the
recently retired CEO of U.S. pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly and influential
Republican campaign donor.

Recent battles at the World Trade Organization (WTO) over providing access
to affordable generic medicines make clear that such access is not in the
interest of the pharmaceutical industry--an industry that held the
allegiance of Tobias for many years. "It would be one thing if Tobias could
boast experience in the field of AIDS or public health," said Brook Baker of
Health GAP. "But being poorly qualified and having questionable priorities
on access to affordable life-saving drugs is bad medicine for people living
with AIDS."

Announcements of the president's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (EPAR) have
indicated that the plan calls for use of affordable generic medicines,
utilizing triple combinations of antiviral drugs available at $300 or less
per person per year. Even with the price reductions offered by branded
pharmaceuticals to some sectors of some developing countries, no
combinations of brand name antiretrovirals approach the $300 target.

The coalition of advocates closely scrutinizing Tobias's confirmation is
reluctant to believe that the retired drug company executive will make good
on this promise. "The 40 million people with AIDS facing death without
access to affordable treatment need experienced public health leadership to
direct this program," said Salih Booker of Africa Action. "Tobias has some
tough questions to answer," continued Booker. "It is highly problematic that
the person chosen by Bush to lead the fight against AIDS brings up concerns
of experience and independence before even being put into the position."

"This administration needs a voice of experience on AIDS issues not a
pharmaceutical executive with his own cynical agenda," said Dr. Paul Zeitz
of Global AIDS Alliance.

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