There are more than 25 million people in sub-Saharan Africa infected with the HIV virus that causes AIDS. Last year 2.4 million South Africans died from the disease. Many were babies and teenagers, which are the most vulnerable of the population. The epidemic, which was once viewed as “being so large it defied a solution”, has now reached pandemic proportions. Every man, woman, and child is either effected or affected with this deadly disease.

However, due to increasing public awareness regarding the high price of the drugs and the intense pressures from advocacy groups across the globe to lower them, the tides are beginning to turn. In the last six months 39 multinati

It is unfortunate that the AIDS epidemic in South Africa had been ignored for the past 20 years. The results have been catastrophic for a nation that has been mired in troubles for thousands of years. Over 17 million people have died from AIDS. That is more than the 16 million combatants who were killed during World War II. Thankfully, WW II is over, but the war against AIDS is South Africa still rages.

The cost of doing business for a drug company is very expensive. They spend hundreds of millions of dollars on research and development. It is estimated that it cost between $500 to $800 million from the conception of a drug to the marketplace. Drug companies must also comply with the rules and regulations of the Food and Drug Administration regarding clinical drug studies that requires thousands of human volunteers which is also very expensive. (Prusoff A19)

Despite the reasons for not getting involved in the South African AIDS crisis, drug companies have finally been shamed into doing what is morally and ethically the right thing to do. They have lowered the price of antiretroviral drugs in South Africa.

Profitability does not begin and end with a single drug. Profits made from one invention finance research and development for the next creation.

The agreement of the 39 multinational drug companies to lower the cost of antiretroviral drugs in South Africa is the first positive step toward eradicating the deadly plague, which has engulfed the country. South Africa can now offer it’s citizen hope that one day they will be able to live their lives free from the threat of contracting the HIV virus that causes AIDS.

Some topics in this essay:
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