Pills Profits Protest

timeline 1980 - 2005

Mid 1980s
“Slim Disease” – later known as AIDS -- began ravaging cities like Kinshasa, Dar es Salaam and other African hotspots, as well as poverty-stricken Haiti.

March 1987
US activists form ACT–UP – the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power, and take to the streets in a Wall Street protest against US government inaction to AIDS, and to demand lifesaving AIDS drugs. The protest spurs the the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to shorten the drug approval process by two years.

June 4-9, 1989
As ACT-UP demonstrates at the Fifth International Conference on AIDS in Montreal demanding a “compassionate use” AIDS drug access program for dying patients, protests by African and Latin American activists there garner global headlines.

May 21, 1990
1000 protesters from ACT-UP "Storm the NIH (National Institutes of Health)" to demand more AIDS treatments. In South Africa and Brazil, health authorities warn of fast-moving epidemics.

September 1, 1991
2500 AIDS activists marched on President Bush's vacation home in Kennebunkport, Maine to demand leadership, declaring that ‘THE AIDS CRISIS CAN END.’

December 1992
Haitian activists join ACT UP, Housing Works and the Coalition for the Homeless to protest detention of HIV-positive Haitians detainment camp in Guantanomo. Brazilian activists issue a “Brazilian Manifesto” at 7th International AIDS conference in Vancouver to demand access to treatment for millions living in global South.

December 1997
French President Jacques Chirac launches the French Therapeutic Solidarity Fund (FSTI) to fund pilot treatment projects in Francophone Africa.

1998-99
Thai protesters push their government to produce generic drugs and battle the multinational companies over high prices of imported AIDS drugs.

June 2000
South Africa’s Treatment Action Campaign leads the first large-scale march and protest for AIDS drugs during the 13th International AIDS Conference in Durban. In Washington, “Jubilee 2000” activist mount a “Drop the Debt” campaign to demand new money to fight AIDS.

February 9, 2001
The pioneering Indian drug company Cipla announces its new $360 a year generic HIV combination therapy – a fraction of the then-$10,000 a year US pricetag for treatment.

June 25, 2001
World leaders at the the United Nations Special Session on AIDS (UNGASS) issue a Declaration of Committment to tackle AIDS and UN leader Kofi Annann discusses a Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria.

November 2001
In Doha, Qatar, the 142-member World Trade Organization issues a ruling allowing the poorest countries to legally access generic AIDS drugs – a landmark step.

July 2002
The World Health Organization announces its “3 x 5” plan to treat 3 million people by 2005.

2003
President Bush launches his global AIDS “PEPFAR” plan which promotes abstinence but provides new money for treatment too. Meanwhile Brazil publishes new reports showing that generic AIDS drugs have boosted AIDS survival and saved millions for the country.

March 15, 2005
Health GAP joins “Drop the Debt” activists to protest at a Washington meeting of G8 leaders; weeks later, the US and Great Britain back a debt forgiveness plan for the worlds poorest countries.