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M. Somasekhar

Ms Maria Calivis, Unicef India chief

Hyderabad , Dec. 16

THE United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) is contemplating the possibility of procuring quality anti-retroviral (ARVs) drugs that help fight HIV/AIDS and provide them at cost-effective prices to affected countries, on the lines of its successful strategy for polio.

"We are discussing the issue at present," said Ms Maria Calivis, India Country Representative of Unicef. Already, Unicef has taken active part in the trial studies of `Niverapine', the ARV that helps halt `mother to child' transmission of HIV infection in India.

The Unicef is involved in developing policies that help children and with HIV affecting an increasing numbers of girl children and new borns, "we see a responsibility to make efforts to ensure the supply of low-cost vaccines or therapeutic drugs", Ms Calivis told Business Line in an interview.

Giving the polio example, Ms Calivis said "We cannot leave everything to market forces. In that case, perhaps we would not have effective vaccines easily available to the poor and developing countries, where such diseases are rampant". The big danger is when the richer countries eradicate a certain disease and then decide not to produce vaccines or undertake research, despite the problem being common in developing countries. Here, the developing countries need to have their own efforts going, the Unicef India chief said.

The Unicef procured polio vaccines to the tune of $100 million last year for its India campaign alone, Interestingly, Panacea Biotech is a supplier for its global initiative as well, Ms Calivis said adding that the UN Children's Fund procured a range of vaccines, kits and other medical equipment worth about $636 million globally at the end of 2001.

The Copenhagen Centre, which is Unicef's main procurement and supply base also sourced $60 million worth vaccines and drugs from India annually for supply to other countries, where its campaigns are on. "Efforts are always on to coordinate with companies which produce high quality, low cost products that help children and the deprived around the world," she said.

In the absence of a vaccine to prevent or drugs to completely cure HIV/AIDS, the best defence at present is education. However, the Unicef Chief saw a big role for the corporates in controlling the spread of this infection. The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and companies like Cipla and Ranbaxy among others are making efforts in the direction.

Warning that economic growth can be threatened if inadequate investments are not made on basic issues like education, health and fighting diseases like HIV/AIDS, malaria, TB and the like, Ms Calivis said corporates should realise that "it makes good economic sense to share the burden of social responsibility with Governments".

The Unicef India chief felt that corporates could get a competitive-edge by donning this social responsibility. Slowly, the consumer would also be more willing to buy products from a producer who has a social bent. "Social corporate responsibility will be a must in the emerging world and consumers would be responsive to such companies," Ms Calivis said.

As far as HIV/AIDS was concerned India was better placed with a Government having a defined policy on ARVs, a number of producers of such drugs and a well spread out non-governmental organisations, she said.

She also saw the role of Foundations and Trusts like the Azim Premji Foundation in Karnataka taking an active role in supplementing the efforts of the Government in health and education issues of the poor as a positive contribution. Globally also, the Melinda & Bill Gates Foundation, Clinton Foundation etc. have taken the responsibility of tackling HIV/AIDS and supply of vaccines and drugs. There is a need for everyone to focus make efforts going by the gravity of the HIV/AIDS problem, Ms Calivis said.

The Unicef, she said procured vaccines and medical aid through two routes— if it was cheaper in the country where the programme is on and requirement exists, then it would be sourced locally. Otherwise, the most competitive, high quality, low cost producer in a global bid would be selected. There is a procurement policy with a certification process. A pre-qualification done by the World Health Organisation is necessary for companies to compete and bid in the international market. While Panacea Biotech is pre-qualified for polio vaccine, Shanta Biotechnics has got the certification for Hepatitis B.

In the Indian context, the Unicef chief saw a growing role for the private sector both in improving health and sanitation as well as basic education (especially for the girl child), to ensure that the present economic growth is sustained.

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