The US National Institutes of Health’s decision to reopen funding opportunities to South African researchers offers welcome relief. However, it also exposes the risks of relying too heavily on foreign support for essential scientific work. When Donald Trump returned to the White House in early 2025, South Africa was the largest foreign recipient of NIH awards. These grants were awarded…
Tag: HIV/AIDS
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Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Crisis Deepens
South Africa’s pharmaceutical manufacturing crisis is growing as local producers lose government contracts and contend with rising costs. Stavros Nicolaou, chair of Pharmaceuticals Made in South Africa, says the Department of Health’s procurement policy is undermining the government’s localisation ambitions. He notes that officials award contracts to companies labelled as local suppliers. However, some companies import finished medicines rather than…
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PEPFAR Funding Cuts Deepen Global HIV Crisis
An inaccurate map of Africa presented at the 26th International AIDS Conference in Rio de Janeiro drew criticism. US officials incorrectly placed Mozambique in the Horn of Africa and moved Ivory Coast from West to East Africa. The mistakes damaged the goodwill built by the Trump administration’s decision to attend the conference, and officials also addressed questions about changes to…
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Lenacapavir Production in South Africa Moves Closer
Three South African pharmaceutical manufacturers have reached the shortlist to potentially produce Gilead Sciences’ HIV-prevention injection, lenacapavir. Deputy Health Minister Joe Phaala confirmed the development at the 26th International Aids Conference in Rio de Janeiro. The South African National Aids Council evaluated submissions received through a call for expressions of interest. It then selected three possible manufacturers. Phaala declined to…
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HIV Funding Cuts Endanger South Africa’s Lenacapavir Rollout
A new report from the US non-profit Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) has issued a stark warning for the healthcare industry. Recent HIV Funding Cuts from the Trump administration are directly threatening South Africa’s ability to deploy lenacapavir. This twice-yearly injectable has been celebrated as a major breakthrough in HIV prevention. HIV Funding Cuts Threaten Life-Saving Healthcare Infrastructure The PHR…
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African Health Funding Shift: Nonprofits Battle Aid Declines
In East London, Lesley-Ann Foster is packing away decades of patient records. Her nonprofit, Masimanyane Women’s Rights International, is facing a crisis. This situation is becoming common across the continent. A massive shift in African health funding is fundamentally changing how medical services are delivered to the most vulnerable. For thirty years, Masimanyane provided a lifeline for survivors of sexual…
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Generic Lenacapavir Manufacturing: SA’s Bold 2027 Strategy
The South African government has unveiled an ambitious roadmap to secure the future of HIV prevention. By 2027, the state intends to facilitate generic Lenacapavir manufacturing within its borders. This move aims to address a critical supply deficit of the game-changing, twice-yearly injectable. Lenacapavir (LEN) is a potent pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) agent. It was registered in South Africa in October…
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Long-acting Injectable PrEP: Transforming HIV Strategies
South Africa is currently bracing for the most significant paradigm shift in its HIV response in over a decade. The national health authority has officially approved long-acting injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). There are plans to roll it out across the public sector in the coming year. For public health advocates, this development represents a potential turning point for prevention. It…
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SA Doubles Pledge to Global Fund as Donors Miss Target
South Africa doubled its pledge to the Global Fund replenishment, emerging as a notable outlier in global health financing. This SA action represents a significant commitment to the Global Fund’s replenishment. The summit concluded on Friday with a substantial funding shortfall. This situation raises concerns about the future trajectory of the fight against HIV, tuberculosis (TB), and malaria. Despite the…
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Hetero Price Collusion Probe and Its Implications
The Competition Commission has confirmed it is actively investigating the South African subsidiary of the Indian generic drug manufacturer Hetero. They are looking into potential price collusion. This significant probe centres on the procurement of crucial HIV medication. Specifically, the combination pill tenofovir, lamivudine, and dolutegravir (TLD) is under review. Most HIV patients in the country take this three-in-one regimen.…
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Health Funding Shortages Impacting HIV/AIDS Care
The National Treasury’s emergency allocation to South Africa’s health sector is dangerously insufficient. It is at high risk of being diverted to pay off massive provincial debts rather than fund essential services, Parliament heard on Wednesday. Health advocates warned the select committee on appropriations that the new funds fail to close the critical health funding gap. This gap was created…
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Global Inequity Prolonging Epidemics and HIV/AIDS
Global inequalities are actively prolonging existing pandemics, such as HIV/AIDS. They are critically undermining the world’s ability to respond to future outbreaks, according to a stark new report. The report highlights how global inequity prolongs epidemics as a major issue that needs immediate attention. The report, “The Global Council on Inequality, AIDS, and Pandemics,” is an expert panel convened by…