The pharmaceutical industry is fighting to balance its need for profits with demands to provide AIDS medicines at affordable prices in poor nations. The issue has been raging around the world, from South Africa to Brazil to Thailand, where HIV/AIDS rates are high, but incomes are generally low.

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Thailand: Public Health Ministry announces mass production of generic drug. Aids groups praise ‘brave’ decision to make a cheap version of Efavirenz.

• Thailand to break HIV drug patent

China: HIV testing to begin January 1, 2007.

• China ’s worst AIDS-hit province orders compulsory pre-marital HIV tests