The following is a comment on two reports being circulated by the pharmaceutical industry regarding the importance of patents in Africa as a barrier to treatment for AIDS...The assertion in both documents is that patents are not an important barrier for access to antiretroviral drugs in African countries, while poverty and limited public and donor spending on health care are important barriers. These are long time industry talking points...The question is, how important are the patents on these 150 to 172 drugs or combinations of drugs. According AGW and PhRMA, they are not important. According to NGOs working on the access to medicines campaign, they are important barriers.