Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2004. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
South African Press Association - March 24, 2004
The TAC said Tshabalala-Msimang was failing to make use of regulations that clearly allow the government to purchase an urgent interim supply of anti-retrovirals pending the finalisation of the tender process.
In her reply in a statement on Wednesday to the Aids Law project, acting on behalf of the Treatment Action Campaign, the minister said a health Minmec meeting on Tuesday agreed there should be an urgent accreditation of facilities that meet the requirements to provide quality care in line with the Comprehensive Plan for Management, Care and Treatment of HIV/Aids.
Tshabalala-Msimang said the facilities will be announced within the next few days.
"In relation to measures to procure supplies of anti-retrovirals, Minmec took the view that interim measures should be explored and used in situations where sites were fully accredited but the national drug tender was still in process."
The minister said Minmec acknowledged that flexibility in procurement methods is acceptable, provided that quality standards of the programme are not jeopardised.
"It was agreed that the national Department of Health would coordinate this process through a national quotation system. This will ensure in future that provinces will not be buying at different prices."
She said this temporary measure would not replace the tender process, which is far better suited to sustainable drug supplies, most competitive prices and longer-term demand for anti-retrovirals that the South African programme may create.
Tshabalala-Msimang said funding for all elements of the plan will become available through the conditional grants to provincial health departments from April 2004.
"With regards to the national tender, more than 40 companies have expressed interest in supplying the drugs and have until April 2 to submit their proposals."
She said a process of short-listing will follow and negotiations will take place with the short-listed companies during May to secure the most competitive prices.
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