R781m budget for Aids plan
Candace Freeman
21 June 2004
Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang has announced a R781-million budget to finance the government's comprehensive plan for the care, management and treatment of HIVAids.
This is an increase of R448-million from last year's allocation and is expected to significantly boost the Health Department's HIV/Aids programme.
The plan aims to provide comprehensive care and treatment for people living with HIV/Aids, and also help strengthen the country's national health system.
A major benefit for those living with the deadly disease is that it allows for the provision of anti-retroviral (ARV) treatment at public health facilities.
The department is in the process of finalising the tender for the long-term supply of ARVs, with eight companies having received requests for quotations thus far.
"The tender should be awarded by the end of August", Tshabalala-Msimang told Parliament during the department's budget vote last week. "This
process has taken longer than we expected, however this has been necessary for us to achieve our main objective, which is a sustainable supply of ARVs at the best possible prices."
Tshabalala-Msimang added that the provinces will continue rolling out ARVs in their own capacity until the final tender has been awarded.
Source: BuaNews
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