NGO welcomes increase in govt HIV/AIDS spending

South Africa's Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) on Thursday said it welcomes increases in HIV/AIDS spending by the country's Treasury Department. In his budget speech on Wednesday, Finance Minister Trevor Manuel allocated about US $233 million in 2003 "for the possible roll-out of medicines to people living with HIV/AIDS" and a further US $405 million to combat the pandemic over three years. However, TAC said it remains concerned as to whether or not government has truly committed to antiretroviral therapy. "We ask the Department of Health to confirm that antiretroviral drugs will be rolled out pending the outcome of a costing study conducted through a committee established by the Treasury and Health Departments," TAC said. The lobby group has given the government until the end of February to implement an HIV/AIDS treatment plan before embarking on a countrywide civil disobedience campaign.