Parliament Passes Bill to Speed Flow of HIV Drugs to Developing Countries

Bill C-393 makes it easier for Canadian generic drug companies to produce cheap versions of patented medicine.

It turns out that amid all the election speculation on Parliament Hill Wednesday, something actually got done. MPs voted 172-111 in favour of C-393, which amends Canada’s Access to Medicine Regime. Under the current system, generic drug companies can only apply for a permit to produce patented HIV drugs once they have received an order, and the regime has only been used once in five years to send much-needed HIV drugs to the developing world. The bill passed Wednesday created a “one-licence” clause, allowing companies to produce as much of the drugs as it wants without having to re-apply. NDP MP Paul Dewar says the bill will help get treatment to the 10 million HIV sufferers who are currently untreated.