South Africa: State Short 1 Billion Rand for AIDS Drugs

The deputy chair of the South African National AIDS Council has warned that the nation could face a 1 billion rand (US $128 million) shortfall for HIV/AIDS drugs this year. "It's vital that the government is able to fund and sustain the treatment program, so the question is, where will the money come from?" asked Mark Heywood. Lacking adequate resources, Heywood said the nation risks repeating the situation that occurred earlier this year in the Free State, where a funding shortage forced health personnel to stop enrolling new HIV/AIDS patients in treatment programs. Heywood blamed the looming shortfall on a broader budget crisis in health programs relating to overspending in fiscal year 2008-09.

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