Kathmandu, April 26:

The National Association of Positives in Nepal (NAPN), today staged a sit-in in front of the US Embassy in Kathmandu to protest against the decision of an American anti-retroviral supplier company to retreat from Thai market.

Members of the NAPN, a national network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWA), wearing black T-shirt squatted in front of the embassy gates for two hours from 9 to 11 am.

“The protest is an expression of solidarity with the people who are most likely to be affected by the Abbott’s decision,” said Sibu Giri, a PLWA. Abbott is a major supplier of anti-retroviral drugs in the region. It had recently decided to withdraw from Thailand in retaliation to the government’s decision to issue licenses for three anti-retrovirals products.

“The day is being observed as the World Abbott Day in over 120 countries worldwide to express solidarity with the Thai people and the Thai government’s lawful decision,” said Sudhir Sherchan, co-ordinator of the NAPN.

According to Sherchan, the price of anti-retrovirals (ARV) will increase by double if the company retreats from Thailand. Nepal buys ARVs from Abbott’s Indian Shipla and Ranbaxy companies. “Nepali patients will not be able to afford ARVs if it retreats from India too,” he said. He said the license would achieve reduction in cost and will increase access to critically important medicine in Thailand.