Sorry not to have answered one or two points sooner. First, my info came from a report on a BBC domestic (UK) radio channel, which had been sparked by a statement by Médecins sans Frontières. That's where the $5-a-tablet figure came from,. I don't question the explanation given above for that figure - the argument still holds that there is one standard for America and another for Africa.

For info about the impact of patent protection on public health in poor countries, the effect of the TRIPS agreements etc, there are many sources.

Here's a link to a relevant part of Ralph Nadar's Cosumer Project for Technology site.

The Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines is another good starting point, with useful links. It's on the MSF site, but I think it's a multi-agency campaign.