Sunday Times (Johannesburg) - July 27, 2008
Claire Keeton

But six years later the company's strategy has saved lives and money, and it is being hailed as a pioneer in HIV care.

Now Anglo American and Discovery Health are assessing the feasibility of a plan to rapidly expand HIV/Aids prevention and care to two million workers and their families who lack medical aid cover.

The plan envisages employers offering low-income workers - particularly contract cleaners, security staff, manufacturing workers and domestic workers - HIV prevention and testing, care, and antiretroviral treatment on a co-financing basis at an affordable rate.

The costs would be funded by both employers and donors.

This proposal to scale up HIV testing and treatment will aim to raise about 450-million from various global donors - possibly including the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria - over five years.

Discovery Health's head of HIV strategy Elaine McKay and Anglo American group medical consultant Dr Brian Brink are driving the proposed "HIV Partnership Fund".

McKay told Business Times: "This could be the largest private sector approach to HIV/Aids globally... and it is the first time a private healthcare funder globally is embarking on a programme like this.

"It depends on taking Discovery's best skills and systems and applying them to HIV. The extent to which we can reach individuals and save lives is what is important."

Brink said attempts would be made to get employers to participate in the not-for-profit initiative.

He said the initiative aimed to be "intervention on a scale that is big enough to make a difference... that could put 100000 people on treatment".

It would aim to make HIV/Aids care accessible to the working poor and support targets for the HIV/Aids National Strategic Plan.

The private sector had expertise, resources and systems in place for this to work effectively, he said.

The proposed partnership has already attracted support from local and international stakeholders like the Global Business Coalition on HIV/Aids, TB and Malaria.

The coalition's vice-president and regional director for southern Africa, Carol O'Brien, said it was critical to address the health needs of the "working poor". She said the proposed fund would require a nominal contribution per year from employers.

"This is desperately needed and I can't imagine one employer who will baulk at paying this for his or her workers."

SA Business Coalition CEO Brad Mears said the partnership could have an "exponential impact on South Africa's ability to increase treatment numbers".

"Keeping costs down will be critical, as will ensuring that there are enough people who are HIV positive and negative who are placed onto the benefit."

An estimated one in five workers are HIV positive.

Anglo American would provide administrative and management support to the trust. While Discovery will spearhead the initiative, the programme "would in principle be open to any interested medical scheme administrator or medical scheme", the proposal says.

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