UGANDA CONFIRMS OPPOSITION TO PEPFAR DRUGS

Officials in the East African state of Uganda have reiterated that imports of generic ARVs tentatively approved under the US government's PEPFAR accelerated review plan will be banned. Officials have commented that distribution will not be permitted until the World Health Organisation (WHO) and local regulators have reviewed the drugs.

The statements follow comments by the governments of three other African countries -- Ethiopia, Nigeria and Tanzania. However, Ugandan officials have suggested that the impasse could be resolved if the WHO backs drugs cleared under the PEPFAR initiative.

However, this process would be likely to take some time, potentially allowing local ARV producers and rival international schemes some breathing space.