In a statement issued late Thursday, South Africa's Health Ministry announced the government has awarded contracts to seven companies to accelerate the introduction of free antiretrovirals (ARVs) for AIDS patients.

"The successful suppliers and provincial health procurement officials will meet every three months. This is a mandatory meeting to allow the provinces and suppliers to plan adequately and meet the demand for ARVs at public health facilities," the ministry said, adding that the first drug deliveries will begin in six to eight weeks.

The contracts are valid until 2007, SAFM radio reported. The companies awarded the contracts include Aspen Pharmacare, GlaxoSmithKline and MSD, the local division of Merck.

According to UN figures, about one in five South Africans are living with HIV/AIDS -- the highest caseload of any nation. President Thabo Mbeki, whose previous questioning of the link between HIV and AIDS fomented controversy, declared in his recent state of the nation address that his government's anti-AIDS plan is "the best in the world." Last year, Mbeki set the goal of distributing free ARVs to 53,000 people via 113 state-accredited health centers by March 2005. Activists, however, estimate that only 20,000 people are receiving the medications.

Back to other news for March 4, 2005

Search the Newsroom archive