South Africa to grab ARV patents?

The South African government is considering weakening the intellectual property rights of drugmakers, as well as more controls on the private  sector, in an attempt to increase the supply of antiretorvirals to the  country's HIV/AIDS population. Among the measures being considered  is an amendment of the Patent Act, according to local media reports.

Deputy President Baleka Mbete opened the fourth South African HIV/AIDS  Conference in Durban, stating that, "by January 2009, 695,293 people  were on antiretroviral treatment. But at current prices, antiretroviral  drugs are not affordable." At over five million people, South Africa has  more people affected by the disease than any other country worldwide  (Marketletters passim).