IPS examines access to treatment for drug-resistant TB

"Access to treatment for drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) remains compromised, especially in developing countries, because too few pharmaceutical companies manufacture quality-assured drugs," Inter Press Service reports in an article examining how a lack of competition and a working mechanism to keep prices low "has led to skyrocketing prices."

The article also looks at the WHO's "Green Light Committee (GLC), which reviews governmental and non-governmental treatment projects and 'green-lights' them for access quality-assured drugs at reduced prices. Although the GLC is theoretically a helpful initiative, its highly bureaucratic application process has prevented many treatment programmes around the world to become part of it," IPS writes (Palitza, 6/17).