Aug. 13, 2002 Arrogance of TAC is nauseating Mathatha Tsedu Steve Biko Foundation executive director Xolela Mangcu recently spoke about the theory of the fox and the hedgehog. The former is open to differing opinions, while the latter is stuck in one mode. But, Mangcu explained, the fox can unwittingly turn into a hedgehog. This happens when the fox becomes so fixated on adaptation that it refuses to believe that further adaptation is no longer possible. At that point, the fox becomes a hedgehog: nothing but its own views are acceptable. Mangcu was talking about democracy, being open-minded and respecting others' views. The furore unleashed by a Sunday paper report, that the Medicines Control Council has called the makers of Nevirapine in to explain aspects of this medicine being used to curb mother-to-child transmission of HIV, has been mind-boggling. The MCC's brief is to licence medicines after conducting tests and research on the efficacy of medicines. This body determines how a medicine should be used and who should be allowed to use it. All these decisions are taken on a rational and scientific basis. The MCC has been pushing the government to allow the use of Nevirapine in state hospitals in the face of open resistance by among others, Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang. When, in early April the minister told Parliament that five women had died in a Nevirapine pilot study, the MCC came out fuming two days later, stating that this was untrue. The minister had said two of the women died of hepatitis and that a link with the other three to Nevirapine was "probable". Everyone understood that she was blaming Nevirapine for their deaths. But the MCC's then-chairperson Helen Rees said there was no conclusive link between Nevirapine and those deaths at Kalafong Hospital, outside Pretoria. At the time the MCC was hailed as an independent organisation, standing up to government for what was scientifically correct. But when the same organisation now says it is time to have a talk with the Nevirapine manufacturer Boehringer Ingelheim, all hell breaks loose among anti-government Nevirapine campaigners. The chorus is that the MCC should not have questioned Boehringer and should the MCC dare to ban the drug (which they never said they will do), then a mass defiance campaign would be launched. All the MCC wanted to know was whether Boehringer could explain why it had withdrawn its application for registration in the US for the use of the drug in mother-to-child transmissions. They also wanted more details on reports concerning the Uganda trials known as HIVNET 012. The Uganda research is important, for it formed the basis of registration of Nevirapine in South Africa by the MCC. When Boehringer applied for registration in the US for mother-to-child prevention use, it emerged that full records of patients had not been kept properly during the Uganda trials. For instance, patients who returned for further interaction were given new patient numbers, making tracking difficult. Research is about reliable data: its analysis forms the backbone of any findings. When these questions were asked in the US, Boehringer withdrew their application. Is it not then legitimate for the MCC to call Boehringer in to explain why this had happened, about a drug that the MCC has approved for that same use? From the reaction of the Treatment Action Campaign and other Aids activists, who want the drug rolled out as and when they deem fit, it would seem no. This arrogance is nauseating. The activists have become so self-righteous that nothing they disagree with can ever be right. They are now the hedgehogs. They say 53 countries are using Nevirapine, which is true, but they do not want the MCC to draw further conclusions from data that they had used to licence the drug. These critics pontificate and rubbish the credentials of honest scientists simply because their own organisations rely on funding dependent on anti-government stances. The abundant threats of defiance will most definitely open the donor doors. It is time someone told the TAC that it is contradictory to say science rules but then to rubbish any scientist who wants to be thorough in their work. The TAC should be told it is ironic that its leader encourages other people to use Nevirapine but will not use it himself! The point is that the TAC is a useful organisation, but needs to grow up and accept that not everyone who differs with it is a lackey of the government.
 TORONTO
tel/fax:(416) 406-HEAL
INDEX
Search our web site (400+ pages)
|
