A review of the cost of AIDS treatment options, jointly undertaken by the South African Health and Treasury Departments, is reported to have found that widespread ARV provision could be cheaper than previously thought. After reviewing a number of scenarios, it suggests that 500,000 people could be on antiretroviral treatment by 2008 for as little as 4 billion rands/year (equivalent to a little more than US $1,000 per person per year at present exchange rates).
This report is due to be considered by national and provincial health ministers before going to Cabinet and, if they agree, would then be presented to the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) later this month or at the beginning of June. It appears to offer a chance for reconciliation between the ANC-led national government and the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC), although there is some scepticism over the ability of the South African government to reach agreement on treatment provision, given that there appear to be continuing sympathies for "AIDS dissidents" on the part of Federal Health Minister Manto Tshabala-Msimang and President Thabo Mbeki.
Despite its misgivings the TAC, backed by trade unionists, church leaders, and many doctors, suspended a campaign of civil disobedience in the run-up to the meeting at the request of Deputy President Jacob Zuma, who chairs SANAC.
TAC chair Zackie Achmat has achieved international recognition for the organisation through his personal stance against taking ARVs while the majority of people in South Africa have no access to treatment, including high profile coverage in Time magazine and the New York Times. He is due to address a public meeting in Trafalgar Square, London, on Wednesday 21 May at 2pm, when a delegation will visit the South African High Commission to endorse TAC's call for the South African government to launch a national treatment and prevention plan including public sector provision of ARVs.