The battle between US-based NGO Aids Healthcare Foundation (AHF) and drug major Cipla is far from over. AHF, which accused Cipla of overpricing Aids drug Viraday in India as compared to prices in Africa, is set to publish a list of more anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs of Cipla, which AHF alleges are overpriced in the country. Like in the case of Viraday, the list is likely to appear in national dailies.
Recently, Cipla sent a legal notice to AHF, seeking apology against the allegations raised by them, following publishing of certain advertisements by AHF in national dailies. These advertisements alleged that Cipla was offering generic Viraday at Rs 21,200 per year in Africa while in India, the drug fetched an exorbitant price of Rs 54,000. AHF has also filed a complaint with the Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Commission (MRTPC) over Cipla?s overpricing of Viraday, which is the generic combination of three anti-HIV drugs.
Chinkholal Thangsing, Asia Pacific bureau chief of AHF Global, told FE, ?We are preparing a list of Cipla?s ARV drugs which are being sold in the country at higher prices compared to Africa and other countries. We will compile it in a couple of weeks.? However, Thangsing refused to name the drugs as well as the price variations.
Refuting allegations of AHF, Cipla managing director Amar Lulla told FE, ?We have reduced our ARV drugs? prices nine times in the recent past. Where were these NGOs then? Let them disclose how much money they have spent on Aids patients in India so far. It is clear who is pulling the strings behind them.? Even though Cipla claimed that Viraday is not being sold in Africa, Thangsing said he had evidence from Medecins Sans Frontiers (MSF), a global NGO, that shows that Cipla is selling Viraday at cheaper prices in Africa.
