ITPCru provided tools to several civil-society groups and networks in Russia to carry out campaigns against ARV drug stock-outs in Kaliningrad, Orenburg, Brjansk and St Petersburg. Rallies, press conferences, flashmobs, street theatres and sign-ons were organised by the local positive groups in respective cities during September and October after the mass demonstration on Red Square and in front of the MoH September 15-16. A statement given by the MoH and Ministry of Social Welfare reads, “In a majority of regions in Russia, no such problem with providing ART to PLHIV exists”. The demands formulated in response to that statement were to preserve contingency funding to cover the drugs supply disruptions, creation of protocols for HIV drugs and their appliance pre-procurement planning, and improve monitoring of the supply-chain management system.
ITPCru conducted a study on procurement of ARV drugs in Russia and found that for 2010, several auctions were conducted in less-than-transparent manners. Out of 39 auctions with pharmaceutical companies for ARVs, 24 were cancelled as there was only one distributor, and therefore drugs were purchased at non-competitively high prices. Several distributors won bids by just 1 kopeek or 1 ruble. The concept note is a useful analytical tool for advocacy. It also lists all the drugs, market prices and distributors.
ITPCru is now convening awards for key activists acknowledging individual/organisational contributions in the AIDS movement. The awardees will be granted a financial contribution from a portion of the Red Ribbon Award premium received by ITPCru in Vienna. Open calls for participating in the voluntary review process are now closed and the panel is ready to look at nominations. Results will be announced prior to World AIDS day.
Meanwhile, ITPCru has been working with Society Association HIV.LV in Latvia to express solidarity to India on FTA negotiations.
Civil-society groups and ITPCru will also publish a regional report on treatment access and organize a Regional Community Advisory Board.
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