Malawi needs an estimated US $28 million to provide free anti-AIDS treatment to some 36,000 people by next year, Health Minister Heatherwick Ntaba, has announced.
According to the Pan African News Agency, Ntaba said a lack of adequate funding was the main obstacle blocking the country's delivery of treatment.
Although the government programme plans to operate from 54 accredited sites, a consignment of drugs expected this week will only cover 20 of the sites.
Malawi's initial target was to place up to 20,000 people on treatment by the end of 2004, but only 8,000 people currently have access to antiretroviral medication.
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