Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2008. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
South African Press Association - February 14, 2008
"I was the first person to express concern about mono therapy ... but we had to make sure that we had enough time to examine the implications of dual therapy," she said.
Tshabalala-Msimang, who was speaking during a media briefing at Parliament, said treatment guidelines and protocols had to be drafted before the programme was rolled out.
"We had to make sure that sites were properly accredited and that there were proper facilities," she said.
She said her department would meet the National Health Council at the end of February to finalise the implementation time frames.
Although she could not give a date for implementation, Tshabalala-Msimang said those provinces that were ready would be allowed to immediately roll out their programmes.
Gauteng was one of the provinces that had indicated it was ready to implement the programme.
Commenting on a recent incident involving a KwaZulu-Natal provincial health department doctor, Colin Pfaff, Tshabalala-Msimang implied that the provincial health department was correct in its decision to suspend the Manguzi Hospital doctor for administering dual therapy to a patient.
"We have particular protocols and guidelines on dual therapy. Anything done outside these guidelines is incorrect," she said.
However, she would not be drawn into details of the case, saying it was an issue between Pfaff and the KwaZulu-Natal provincial department.
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