iClinic - July 14, 2000
Marjolein Harvey
They know that the drugs prevent mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) and that these drugs are available, but add that they have no access to them. The department of health was still not able to give clear timeframes for the provision of drugs to prevent MTCT at a press conference on Thursday. Instead, they denied that they had received a report on nevirapine given to them three weeks ago, and instead invited the TAC for more discussions.
The director-general of the department of health said, however, that the government agrees with the TAC on the usefulness of compulsory licensing to obtain cheaper medicines.
"The Medicines Control Council's Helen Rees has made a commitment to follow the necessary steps as quickly as possible to get nevirapine approved and the speed of delivery also depends on the researchers' readiness to answer the necessary questions," said the KZN health MEC, adding that the report "will not lie on the shelves".
In SA, there are more than two million pregnancies in HIV+ women every year. Every day, 1 800 infected children are born. Without intervention, 30% of these will be infected with HIV.
With access to appropriate treatment, transmission rates of less than five percent have been reported, according to James McIntyre of the perinatal HIV research unit at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Johannesburg.
000714
IC000705
Copyright © 2000 - iClinic is part of the Woza Network. It is sponsored by Medafrica.com and Labafrica.com. Reproduction of this article (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the iClinic Permissions Desk.
ÆGiS is made possible through unrestricted grants from Boehringer Ingelheim, iMetrikus, Inc., the National Library of Medicine, and donations from users like you. Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2000. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.
ÆGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.
Copyright ©1990, 2000. ÆGiS & the Sisters of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary. All materials appearing on ÆGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of ÆGiS and the Sisters of Saint. Elizabeth of Hungary, or the party credited as the provider of the content.