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Huge resources availed to HIV/AIDS spending

    JOHANNESBURG

    South Africa's cabinet has noted the allocation of increased resources, announced on Wednesday by Finance Minister Trevor Manuel, for the provision of HIV/AIDS drugs in the public health sector.

    The country is set to almost quadruple its spending on HIV/AIDS, a move analysts have said signals a major shift in the political will to fight the pandemic ravaging the country.

    In his recent medium-term budget policy statement in parliament, the finance minister said total expenditure on HIV/AIDS treatment could exceed the estimated US $434 million spent from 2001/02 to the current 2003/04 financial year, with an additional $583 million allocated for 2005/06 and close to $700 million for 2006/07.

    Manuel was quoted by Reuters as saying: "Starting next year, and [for] ... two successive years, the amounts have been increased. I think we are talking about a total of $1.7 billion."

    The cabinet is still considering the national anti-AIDS drug plan, submitted at the end of September, but doctors have called for a quick rollout.

    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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