WOMENS’ RIGHT TO HEALTH IN THE FACE OF NEW REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGIES

Angela Aparisi Miralles — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 04:07:44 PST

Abstract New reproductive technologies are based, to a great extent, on ostensibly coherent and articulate justificatory discourse, as well as on a concrete view of the woman. Certain assumptions are presented as axioms or “indisputable truths.” However, upon careful analysis it is revealed that far from being neutral or “real” facts, we find ourselves in the face of reductionisms, imprecisions, ideological constructs – clearly patriarchal – and even outright fallacies. Among them we can mention infertility being presented as the inability to fulfil oneself, the reduction of maternity to biological maternity, the consideration of infertility as an exclusively woman’s illness, and the likening of infertility to sterility. As a consequence, the woman’s human right to health is made vulnerable and violated. Key words: New reproductive technologies, woman, infertility, sterility, human right to health.

THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY, AIDS AND JUSTICE

Jose López Guzman — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 04:29:29 PST

This article offers an approximation to the broad, and complicated, framework of relationships between the Third World and pharmaceutical companies. In the first part of this work, reference is made to the poverty of these countries, their lack of health education, the scarcity of basic hygiene, and of course, their greatly limited access to medicines, especially those for AIDS. The article then proceeds to the issue of the pharmaceutical companies’ degree of responsibility in the paucity of medicines in certain areas of the world. One factor that most limits access to medicines is price. Many sectors propose acting upon the patents of drugs (rescinding or limiting them) in order to lower their price. The problem with patent exemption is more complicated than it seems at first glance. On the other hand, it is a measure that comes with its own risks. If for lack of funds, or the uncertainty of a return of the capital invested, the research and development of new drugs discontinue, AIDS therapy would notably worsen. It is imperative and urgent to develop new drugs against the AIDS because of its resistance to the drugs currently available. The article concludes with the efforts of the pharmaceutical industry to research possible forms of collaboration with developing countries.