| United States 2023 © Marilia Gurgel |
Time for $5: MSF calls on companies to lower the price of diagnostic tests |
On March 22, Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) joined other global health activists in a protest demanding the US corporation Danaher lower the price of GeneXpert medical tests, which are used to diagnose people with diseases like tuberculosis (TB) and HIV and are currently unaffordable for many low- and middle-income countries. The protest—just two days ahead of World TB Day on March 24—coincided with the launch of a global petition targeting Danaher and Cepheid, the company it owns that manufactures medical tests.
“Danaher and Cepheid benefitted from at least $252 million in public funding to develop these tests, but then they’ve turned around and are charging exorbitant prices anyway,” said Hanna Darroll, global health campaign officer for MSF USA. “This means that millions of people in low- and middle-income countries can’t get properly diagnosed and offered the treatment they need to survive. Our research shows that Danaher could be charging $5 per test and still make a hefty profit. We’re here to tell Cepheid and Danaher: it’s time for five!” Sign the petition > |
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