In a historic move, Colombia bypasses a patent to access a key HIV drug

Yet, the instauration of dolutegravir into much wellness programmes depends connected 2 things: however galore generic doses the Colombian authorities buys — and however quickly.

"It takes immoderate clip for generics to beryllium registered,” said Luz Marina Umbasia, manager of the Global Humanitarian Progress Corporation successful Colombia.

Umbasia explained that the purchasing process typically takes astatine slightest six months, though her organisation has encouraged the Colombian authorities to bargain doses “as soon arsenic possible”.

That volition let patients entree implicit the adjacent term, portion the cause is inactive nether patent. The rights that ViiV Healthcare holds for dolutegravir successful Colombia are acceptable to expire successful 2026.

Some advocates, however, uncertainty Colombia’s quality to coordinate a speedy and businesslike dolutegravir purchase. They cited a shortage of hepatitis C medicine last twelvemonth that resulted from delays successful terms negotiations and proviso acquisition.

“We don’t person a bully acquisition with the Colombian government,” said Nestor Alvarez Lara, a pharmacist and president of the advocacy radical High Cost Patients.

He called connected the Colombian authorities to undertake a “very well-planned” rollout of the generic dolutegravir to debar the aforesaid dilemmas.

“You person to bargain successful ample quantities,” helium said. “There’s a large woody of distrust that, astatine immoderate point, you mightiness person 3 months' proviso and past tally retired of medication.”

In a connection to Al Jazeera, the Colombian Ministry of Health and Social Protection said the authorities is finalising a dialog to bargain a “continuous supply” of dolutegravir done the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).

They expect it to go disposable successful the past 3 months of 2024. Officials program to commencement by purchasing much than 800,000 bottles, guaranteeing a twelvemonth of attraction for astir 67,000 people.

Villan considers himself fortunate to person switched implicit to dolutegravir. He lone learned it was an enactment due to the fact that his hubby switched his medications past year, and Villan saw his intelligence authorities transform.

“I met my hubby again,” Villan said.

Villan added that helium has helped friends get dolutegravir erstwhile their wellness security ran out. He hopes the caller licence volition broaden entree and destruct the uncertainty they face.

“You person to beryllium connected continuous attraction for it to beryllium effective,” helium said. “Having that confidence, that consistency … we tin unrecorded a wholly undetectable life.”