TANZANIA MOVES TOWARDS ZERO-COST ARVS DISTRIBUTION

In an example of a growing trend throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, government agencies in Zanzibar and Tanzania are to begin distributing HIV/AIDS drugs at zero cost. The plan follows efforts by former US president Bill Clinton, with assistance from Columbia University.

The Clinton initiative follows a deal announced earlier this year, which involved Indian generic drugmaker Cipla. Meanwhile, drug producers present in Tanzania have protested Kenya's move to abandon a 10% tax on imported pharmaceuticals, fearing this will allow "dumping" by low-cost foreign firms. East Africa's drug market is valued at about US$300mn per year