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Zambia has partly subsidised anti-AIDS drugs to the benefit of more than 12,000 people living with HIV and AIDS, Agence France-Presse reported.
Health Minister Brian Chituwo recently told parliament that the initiative was part of a long-term government goal to have 100,000 HIV-positive people on antiretroviral treatment by 2005.
Despite wider availability of the drugs, the government has been criticised for expecting patients to contribute about US $8 towards their treatment each month.
"We recognise that the cost-sharing measures are a hindrance to the universal access to antiretrovirals for patients," Chituwo said, but added that the fee was introduced to avoid illegal trading of the drugs.
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