Health Matters

Tag: AIDS

  • AIDS Drug Tender Faces Health Department Pushback

    The Health Department has defended its R15.5bn AIDS drug tender against a legal challenge from pharmaceutical manufacturer Cipla. The department argues that officials followed a fair and rational process when awarding contracts to supply key HIV medicines. The dispute centres on contracts that took effect on 1 December 2025. They cover the daily treatment used by most HIV patients. Cipla,…

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  • Global HIV Funding Cuts Put AIDS Progress At Risk

    Global HIV funding cuts pushed international financing for the epidemic to its lowest level in almost two decades in 2025. Funding from several donor countries fell by 18% between 2024 and 2025, according to a new UNAIDS report. The total declined by more than $1.5bn to $7.3bn. The contraction comes at a critical point in the global response to HIV.…

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  • Global HIV Treatment Gap Leaves 8.8 Million Behind

    Nearly nine million people living with HIV are not receiving treatment, despite major progress in expanding access to antiretroviral medicines. UNAIDS estimates that 40.9 million people were living with HIV in 2025. Of these, 32.1 million were accessing antiretroviral therapy. This means about 8.8 million people remained without treatment. Around 78% of people living with HIV had access to treatment.…

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  • AIDS Drug Tender Controversy Raises Serious Questions

    South Africa’s AIDS Drug Tender Controversy has escalated in Parliament, after Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi sought to distance himself from the department’s latest antiretroviral procurement saga. He told MPs that director-general Sandile Buthelezi, as the department’s accounting officer, carries full responsibility for procurement sign-off. This includes the R15.5bn AIDS drug tender announced in August. The tender covers the three-in-one…

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  • Lenacapavir HIV Prevention Injection to Reach Too Few

    South Africa’s first consignment of lenacapavir, a six-monthly HIV prevention injection for high-risk HIV-negative people, will cover fewer than a quarter of the target population. Deliveries are underway and will continue through April. Rollout will begin immediately after delivery, with an initial two-year implementation plan. Lenacapavir has been described as an HIV game-changer because trial outcomes show it is close…

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  • AIDS Drug Tender: Pressure as Suppliers Enter Business Rescue

    Two pharmaceutical companies awarded a share of South Africa’s latest Aids drug tender are in business rescue and have struggled to consistently supply the state. Avacare Health subsidiaries Barrs and Innovata each won portions of the core contract to supply TLD. Most HIV patients use this three-in-one antiretroviral pill. Both entities entered business rescue in December. Therefore, this raised concerns…

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  • HIV Drug Tender Facing Legal Challenge from Hetero SA

    The South African subsidiary of Indian generic giant Hetero has launched an urgent legal attack against the Department of Health over its latest HIV/AIDS drug tender. Hetero SA alleges that authorities unlawfully excluded it from crucial contracts to supply the primary “three-in-one” pill (TLD) used by most of South Africa’s 5.6 million patients. Just as new contracts start on 1…

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  • UK Cuts Contribution to Global Fund By 15 Percent

    Britain has announced an £850 million pledge to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, marking a significant 15% reduction in its contribution as the nation grapples with tighter domestic budgets. The pledge covers the 2026-2028 period. The UK government, historically a major donor to the Geneva-based health initiative, defended the decision by highlighting its expected impact. Officials…

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  • Lenacapavir Approved for HIV Prevention in South Africa

    South Africa has taken a monumental step in its fight against HIV with the registration of a long-acting prevention injection. The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) has announced the approval of the antiretroviral drug lenacapavir. Global health experts have hailed the twice-yearly jab as a “game-changer.” The prestigious journal Science named the injection, which provides six months of…

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  • African Philanthropists Must Drive Change in Public Health

    The head of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria has issued a powerful call to action for African philanthropists. He urges them to direct their resources towards health initiatives. These efforts could save millions of lives and transform the continent’s future. Speaking from the sidelines of the World Health Summit in Berlin, Executive Director Peter Sands made…

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  • UNAIDS Closure Causes Outrage Among Health Advocates

    South African health advocates have issued a stark warning. They believe the planned closure of the Joint UN Programme on HIV/Aids (UNAIDS) will have a devastating effect on millions of lives. This also risks derailing decades of progress in the global fight against the epidemic. According to a United Nations document released this week, the United Nations will “sunset” the…

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  • Generic HIV Prevention Drug to Cost Just $40 Annually from 2027

    In a monumental step forward for global public health, Indian pharmaceutical companies Dr Reddy’s Laboratories and Hetero Labs have announced they will produce and sell generic versions of a revolutionary HIV prevention drug. It will be available for around $40 per year. Availability is expected from 2027. The drug, lenacapavir, is a long-acting injectable developed by Gilead Sciences. It has…

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