Oscar Pistorius’ Release from Prison
- Background: Oscar Pistorius, a former Paralympic and Olympic runner from South Africa, known as the “Blade Runner” for his carbon-fiber prosthetic legs, has been granted parole and is set to be released from prison on January 5, 2024. Pistorius was jailed in 2014 for the murder of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, which occurred on Valentine’s Day 2013.
South Africa, Colombia, and Others Fighting Drugmakers
- Combative Approach: In response to disparities experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic, where rich countries acquired most of the world’s vaccines, leaving few for poorer nations, South Africa, Colombia, and other countries are taking a more assertive stance against drugmakers. They are challenging policies that restrict access to affordable treatments for tuberculosis (TB) and HIV, aiming to make lifesaving medicines more widely available.
- Bedaquiline and Patent Issues: The drug bedaquiline, crucial for treating drug-resistant TB, especially in South Africa (where TB is the leading cause of death), has been a significant focus. Activists have protested Johnson & Johnson’s efforts to protect its patent on bedaquiline. The company had extended its patent until 2027 in South Africa, which was seen as profiteering by activists. Following pressure and a governmental investigation into the company’s pricing policies, J&J announced in September that it would relinquish its patent in over 130 countries, allowing the production of generics.
- Colombia’s Actions on HIV Drugs: Colombia declared it would issue a compulsory license for the HIV drug dolutegravir without the patent-holder’s permission. This bold step, influenced by the inequity of COVID vaccine distribution, aims to ensure affordable AIDS treatment. Similar actions are being considered by other countries like Brazi.
- Africa’s Vaccine Production and Past Experiences: During the coronavirus pandemic, Africa, which produced less than 1% of all vaccines globally, used over half of the world’s supply. The continent’s history, particularly during the HIV epidemic in the late 1990s and early 2000s, when access to necessary medicines was limited, has influenced current actions. Nelson Mandela’s government had previously suspended patents to widen access to AIDS drugs, a move that led to legal challenges from over 30 drugmakers.
- Ongoing Challenges: Despite these efforts, experts have noted that South Africa’s intellectual property laws are not adequately reformed, making it too easy for pharmaceutical companies to acquire and extend patents. This issue highlights the need for legal reforms to better challenge and limit pharmaceutical monopolies.
These news stories from NYK Daily underscore significant developments in South Africa regarding criminal justice and global health equity, reflecting ongoing challenges and the responses of affected countries to address them.