Main content

Fighting for treatment: The Aids activists who took on big pharma

In the late 1990s cases of HIV/Aids soared in South Africa. By 1998 almost 3 million people were infected, and Aids was the country鈥檚 leading cause of death. Yet anti-retroviral drugs were too expensive for all but the richest South Africans.

Activists began a long campaign for the right to import and use cheaper versions of the vital drugs.

Witness History spoke to Mark Heywood, one of the founders of the 鈥楾reatment Action Campaign鈥� about taking on both the major pharmaceutical companies and the South African government.

Release date:

Duration:

4 minutes