South African ARV Programme Controversy Grows

Political tensions in South Africa over the government's programme for HIV/AIDS treatment appear to be reaching fever pitch. During a budget debate last week, opposition politicians described the outlook for treating the disease as "bleak," prompting heated debate over the real extent of antiretroviral (ARV) drug provision in the country.

South Africa recently carried out a ZAR3.4bn (US$578.61mn) three-year government supply tender for HIV/AIDS generics, in which leading local producers and multinationals featured strongly. However, reports claim that the existing programme for conventional HIV/AIDS therapies has reached fewer than 30,000 South Africans, while it is estimated that up to 1,000 die each day from conditions related to the disease. Opposition groups have forecast that annual death rates will peak at 900,000 in 2010.

The controversy has been further stirred by the government's decision to provide 153,000 sufferers with a multivitamin syrup that is widely seen as ineffective in treating the virus. The contrast between the limited scale of conventional treatment and "alternative" remedies in South Africa remains startling, and continues to exorcise both opposition groups and treatment activists.