Ghana remains without any of the drugs that allow people with AIDS in rich countries to lead full lives. Efforts by an Indian company to market them in the country failed when a drug multinational issued a patents challenge. Eugenia Adofo visited an Accra hospital to speak to a patient.

One of the world's biggest drugs companies yesterday relaxed its patent over two Aids drugs, allowing manufacturers in South Africa to produce cheaper copies for local use, after protests from the scientific community.

World leaders in health philanthropy will convene in London for an Inaugural Global Health Philanthropy Summit, to be held at the Royal College of Physicians from 9-11 May 2001. The Academy for International Health Philanthropy's Summit will address how philanthropists can make a greater and lasting impact on world health by pooling knowledge and by more effective targeting of their support. Registrations applications are available at the AIHP website or by e-mail.