Cape Town - Trade unions in the health sector have hailed the introduction of a new single anti-retroviral pill, with several saying it’s a “step in the right direction” in a country that carries 25 percent of the world’s HIV burden.
The Democratic Nursing Organisation of SA (Denosa) described the launch of the triple-dose fixed combination as “one of the many positive strides” taken by the government.
Spokesman Sibongiseni Delihlazo said apart from the convenience of the new drug, the union hoped it would reach more patients because of its cost-effectiveness.
The pill – a combination of first-line drugs Tenofovir, Emtricitabine and Efavirenz – costs the government about R90 a month to treat one patient. It is expected to improve patients’ adherence to their medication, and make the prescription and dispensing of ARVS easier.
Launched by Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi on Monday, the ARV will initially be introduced to about 180 000 people, including pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers.
Delihlazo said the drug, which would cost the government R5.9-billion in the next two years, would benefit the poorest of the poor, who often struggled to stick to their medication because of a shortage of food.
Dr Mzukisi Grootboom, chairman of the SA Medical Association, said a single pill would improve access to treatment because of its cost-effectiveness, and relieve health workers of the workload associated with administering ARVS.
Sizwe Pamla, spokesman for National Education Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu), said there was a need to train more health workers and support staff if the programme was to be successful.
“Training is critical, especially in rural areas where health workers are facing… manpower challenges,” he said.
He was also concerned about health centres running out of the medication.
But Motsoaledi was confident there were enough supplies, saying his department had initiated monthly supplier meetings.
Almost 400 000 doses of the pill had been supplied to the provinces for the first phase of the roll-out.
“Most of this stock has been distributed to the facilities and a small buffer stock retained at the depots,” he said. - Cape Argus