Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2005. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
South African Press Association - November 3, 2005
The TAC has repeatedly called on Minister of Health Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, her Western Cape counterpart, Pierre Uys, and the Medicines Control Council to act against what it claims are illegal clinical trials being conducted by Rath.
In a newsletter released on Wednesday, the TAC said that if no action is taken "in the next few days", it will be left with no choice but to seek interdicts against Rath's activities and a declarative order against the minister of health.
"Reluctantly, we might have to take the minister to court yet again, but there is no choice: too many lives are at risk."
The Rath Foundation advocates its vitamin products as a treatment for HIV/Aids. It claims anti-retrovirals are toxic, and that TAC, which advocates the use of the drugs, is a front for the pharmaceutical industry.
There have been reports recently of the deaths of people taking part in Rath's trials.
The foundation has so far not commented on other reports that at least two patients held up by Rath as models of success on his vitamin programme are, in fact, still taking anti-retrovirals.
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