Nearly half (46%) of business leaders expect HIV/AIDS to impact their operations over the next five years, an increase of a tenth since last year, according a report from the World Economic Forum published on January 12. Business & HIV/AIDS: A Healthier Partnership?, a survey of 11,000 business leaders in 117 countries, finds that companies in countries where over a fifth of the population has HIV/AIDS are more likely to have formal policies on HIV/AIDS (58%).
However, the report highlights that policies tend to focus on the prevention of infection, and neglect issues such as discrimination in promotion, pay or benefits based on HIV status. The report calls for policies to be strengthened so that they also minimise stigma, promote non-discrimination based on HIV status, and support systems that give employees access to anti-retroviral treatments. Contact WEF www.weforum.org
Painting the town red
American Express, Gap and Giorgio Armani are the first companies to sign up to a new business venture to raise funds for HIV/AIDS programmes for African women and children. Under the initiative, fronted by pop-star activist Bono, the three companies will channel a portion of profits from the sales of a range of specially designed products to support the work of The Global Fund. The products, to be sold under the brand RED, will be available from March this year. American Express’s RED credit card pays a minimum of 1% on all annual spend directly to The Global Fund on the cardholder’s behalf. Gap’s RED clothing collection will be made in African countries. The first product, a t-shirt, will initially be sold in the UK and the US. Giorgio Armani will sell EA RED sunglasses in Armani stores around the world. Contact American Express 020 www.americanexpress.com/uk
Test match
Former US president Bill Clinton announced that his foundation has negotiated lower prices on AIDS tests and two important AIDS drugs. Four companies from the US, India, Israel and China – Chembio, Orgenics, Qualpro Diagnostics and Shanghai Kehua – will offer rapid HIV tests for 49 cents to 65 cents, reducing the typical cost of a test in poor countries by half, Clinton said in a written statement. Another four companies – three from India (Cipla, Ranbaxy and Strides Arcolab) and one from South Africa (Aspen Pharmacare) – will make the anti-retroviral drug efavirenz available for as little as $240 per patient per year. Contact Clinton Foundation www.clintonfoundation.org
Going local
Roche is providing technical expertise to drugs companies in sub-Saharan Africa, to enable them to make generic HIV medicines locally. The move is part of Roche’s new Technology Transfer Initiative, and will also be extended to the world’s Least Developed Countries. Under the initiative, Roche has committed not to enforce its patents on HIV medicines in these regions. Contact Roche www.roche.com
COMMENTS