Cape will get free Nevirapine
by Linda Ensor
2002-01-31
The Western Cape government is to receive free supplies of the antiretroviral drug Nevirapine, which is used to prevent HIV-positive women from infecting their unborn babies, from German pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim for the next five years. The application was made and approved yesterday and will result in a R750 000 saving for the provincial government. In the past, it bought the drug from the company. Premier Peter Marais' announcement follows a similar one by KwaZulu-Natal premier Lionel Mtshali earlier this week.
In addition to the deal announced by Marais yesterday, the Western Cape has negotiated a 70% discount on AZT from GlaxoSmithKline for its pilot project in Khayelitsha. This programme, which started in January 1999 and has treated 3200 people, will be extended to other regions soon. Marais said the free Nevirapine would become available immediately at 38 maternity centres where the programme has been implemented, and at all other maternity service centres as the programme was rolled out. Marais has declared war on HIV/AIDS in the province and has committed his government to reducing the infection rate among pregnant women from its current 8,5% to 5% by 2004.
Western Cape deputy health director-general Fareed Abdullah said the Western Cape programme, which started in January last year, was the largest in Africa in terms of the number of patients treated and facilities involved. By June, 95% of transmission cases would be treated and by March next year there would be 100% coverage. Abdullah said the cost of the drug (R25 per birth), was less than 5% of the total cost of the anti-transmission programme, the most expensive item being formula for the baby for six months (about R500 a child). Other costs were for counselling and testing, antenatal care and delivery and follow-up care. (Source: Business Day, 25 January 2002)
The Western Cape government is to receive free supplies of the antiretroviral drug Nevirapine, which is used to prevent HIV-positive women from infecting their unborn babies, from German pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim for the next five years.
The application was made and approved yesterday and will result in a R750 000 saving for the provincial government. In the past, it bought the drug from the company. Premier Peter Marais' announcement follows a similar one by KwaZulu-Natal premier Lionel Mtshali earlier this week.
It is understood the national department, which is limiting supplies of the drug to 18 pilot sites, is in talks with Boehringer Ingelheim with a view to positively accepting its offer of free drugs, which it has made to all African countries. The department has launched an appeal against a recent Pretoria High Court judgment in favour of the Treatment Action Campaign's demand that Nevirapine be made available to all HIV-pregnant women.
In addition to the deal announced by Marais yesterday, the Western Cape has negotiated a 70% discount on AZT from GlaxoSmithKline for its pilot project in Khayelitsha. This programme, which started in January 1999 and has treated 3200 people, will be extended to other regions soon.
Marais said the free Nevirapine would become available immediately at 38 maternity centres where the programme has been implemented, and at all other maternity service centres as the programme was rolled out.
We estimate that we will treat 5 000-6 000 HIV-positive women a year over the next five years, he said.
Marais has declared war on HIV/AIDS in the province and has committed his government to reducing the infection rate among pregnant women from its current 8,5% to 5% by 2004.
Western Cape deputy health director-general Fareed Abdullah said the Western Cape programme, which started in January last year, was the largest in Africa in terms of the number of patients treated and facilities involved.
By June, 95% of transmission cases would be treated and by March next year there would be 100% coverage.
Abdullah said the cost of the drug (R25 per birth), was less than 5% of the total cost of the anti-transmission programme, the most expensive item being formula for the baby for six months (about R500 a child). Other costs were for counselling and testing, antenatal care and delivery and follow-up care.
Mtshali remained resolute yesterday that Nevirapine would be available to HIV-positive pregnant women in his province, despite his African National Congress (ANC) health MEC, Zweli Mkhize, backing down on the issue after the announcement. Mtshali is a member of the Inkatha Freedom Party.
No amount of political pressure would make me renege on this principled stand. If it means paying a political price for it, so be it, Mtshali said.
This is a principled stand I have taken out of deep concern for the plight of unborn generations who are condemned to death even before they see the light of day, for sins not their own, he said.
Source: Business Day, 25 January 2002
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