Brasília, June 25, 2004 (Agência Brasil) - The Coordinator of the National STD/Aids Program, Alexander Grangeiro, disclosed yesterday (24) that Brazil may import technology developed in Thailand to produce condoms. "The condoms manufactured there are 40 times less expensive than the ones sold here," observed Grangeiro, who participated in a meeting, Monday (21), with representatives of the Thai government. "They are willing to share the know-how and transfer this technology for Brazil to obtain better results, when it installs a condom factory."

Thailand and Brazil are members of a seven-country group with plans to establish a technology exchange network for combatting the HIV virus. China, India, Russia, and South Africa also belong to this group. Representatives from these countries are currently engaged in a diagnosis of each country's potential. The partnership can help the group deal with new challenges in fighting the disease.

One such challenge will arise next year, when developing countries will adhere to a World Trade Organization (WTO) agreement that sets rules for protecting intellectual property. To comply with this agreement - known as Trips - these countries will patent the anti-retroviral drugs produced by their industries. The prices of these medications will tend to rise as a result.

This change disturbs representatives of international organisms. The director of the French Aids Research Agency, Michel Kazatchkine, is afraid that the price increase will decrease the number of people benefitted by the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. Two years ago this fund, fed by the developing countries, established a war chest of US$ 3 billion.

"Over half this money is used for the treatment of Aids in African countries," according to Kazatchkine, one of the members of the Global Fund's management committee. "The Fund currently makes it possible to treat 1.3 million people. This in places where, until recently, only the high-income population had access to medications."

Translator: David Silberstein