Manto Tshabalala-Msimang

Health Minister Manto Tshabalala Msimang today vowed to continue engaging traditional healers on health issues, saying they were important partners in the fight against HIV and AIDS.

Health Minister, Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang has welcomed the recognition of South Africa as one of the 17 countries that are on track towards meeting the United Nations 2010 target in the provision of antiretroviral treatment for Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT).

All HIV vaccine trials in South Africa have been put on hold following the failure of the Phambili HIV vaccine trial.

South Africa must do more to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS amid rising child deaths and over one million children orphaned by the disease, the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) said Wednesday.

African countries should make use of intellectual provisions to protect their innovations when it comes to African traditional medicines, Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang said on Monday.

Although there has been a decrease in the prevalence of HIV, the Department of Health is intensifying its HIV prevention programme including the improvement of regimen for Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT), said Health Minister, Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang. Minister Tshabalala-Msimang was speaking at the first Global-World HIV and AIDS Alliance conference hosted in Richards Bay by the University of Zululand in partnership with Jackson State and Drew Universities.

South African President Thabo Mbeki has fired his deputy health minister amidst controversy over a foreign trip and reported disagreements with the health minister over HIV/AIDS policies.

An indaba to discuss inflation and lack of transparency in the private healthcare industry will be convened next month, Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang said on Wednesday. The planned indaba will come after the Department of Health held a meeting with about 50 private healthcare industry stakeholders in Pretoria on Wednesday.

An indaba to discuss inflation and lack of transparency in the private healthcare industry will be convened next month, Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang said on Wednesday. The planned indaba will come after the Department of Health held a meeting with about 50 private healthcare industry stakeholders in Pretoria on Wednesday.

New generation antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) could cost 500 percent more than those now being dispensed by the health department, Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang said on Tuesday.