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Rise in AIDS public health cost expected

    JOHANNESBURG

    Researchers are warning that South Africa should prepare for a sharp rise in the cost of public health services in the next few years, due to HIV/AIDS.

    According to the Health Economics and HIV/AIDS Research Division (HEARD) of the University of KwaZulu-Natal in the coastal city of Durban, large numbers of HIV-positive people are expected to develop AIDS-related diseases as the country's high prevalence rates start manifesting themselves in illness and death.

    "HIV-positive patients might soon account for 60 percent to 70 percent of hospital expenditure in medical wards," Inter Press Service quoted HEARD researcher Nina Veenstra as saying.

    The experts also warned that the country's health department might not be able to cope with its growing responsibilities unless government made substantial budgetary increases in the relevant departments.

    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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