AGENDA

Part I

Welcome and Introduction
Co-Chair and Moderator: Elaine M. Wolfson, Ph.D.

Keynote Remarks
Co-Chair: H.E. Ousmane Moutari

Part II

I. Is HIV/AIDS an emergency requiring urgent action?
Co-Chair: Christine Kapalata and Jeffrey L. Sturchio, Ph.D.

II. Do operational issues require legislative, governmental, and private sector perspectives and input?

1. The requirements of drug registration and their impact on HIV/AIDS: what can be done at the government level?
Heather Lauver

2. Sovereignty and accountability for governments: what are the parameters, and what are the implications for HIV/AIDS drug distribution?
François Oubida

3. Pricing of drugs and government input: should governments influence the pricing of HIV/AIDS drugs once they are in country?
François Oubida, Mark Speaker and
Jeffrey L. Sturchio, Ph.D.

4. Import duties on HIV/AIDS drugs: are there national barriers to access for treatment?
Mark Speaker

III. Would mutual responsibility and ongoing follow-up address the challenges?

1. Drug diversion: what are the issues, and how do we address them?
Heather Lauver

2. Government-Pharmaceutical company relations: the need for open-communication and transparency between pharmaceutical companies and governments is crucial for accelerating access to treatment.
Lefu Manyokole and Jeffrey L. Sturchio, Ph.D.

IV. How can education and civil society have an impact?
H.E. Jagdish Koonjul and Issa Konfourou

1. Should handlers of HIV/AIDS drugs such as customs officers and medical personnel be given special education and sensitivity training?

2. Should the NGO be seen as an intermediary agent?

(a) Is there a need for an intermediary agent such as an NGO to facilitate communication?

(b) Credibility of an NGO as an intermediary agent: is it crucial for open communication?

(c) Who should be entrusted with the selection of the intermediary agent?

Mark Speaker, Lefu Manyokole and
Jeffrey Sturchio, Ph.D.

Summation

H.E. Ousmane Moutari