S. Africa commends for bankrolling anti-HIV programs

South Africa on Wednesday continued to get accolades from global development partners for funding most of its anti-HIV programs from its own coffers.

South Africa currently has the biggest number of people on antiretroviral treatment despite the reduction of funding by international donors like the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the Global Fund, said Dr Robert Hecht, managing director of Results for Development Institute (R4D), a non-profit organization which assists low and middle income countries with developmental issues.

Addressing delegates at the 21rst International Aids conference in Durban, he said, "South Africa has made enormous progress in various sectors. The country started late but has overtaken many countries."

South Africa is covering 80-85 percent of the required funding from its public budget. The country has also made improvement in reducing mother to child transmission and rolled out male circumcision.

But Dr Hecht said the country should lower the drugs procurement costs and enhance workforce efficiency.

South Africa is one of the country with high labour cost in the world.

Dr Hecht said the country should also consider introducing HIV tax like other countries to cover its anti-HIV programs.

South African Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsaoledi said the country has managed to achieve a milestone in the department by efficiently running the department and reducing costs.

He said they reduced the procurement and costs of HIV drugs so that they can cater for more people who had to be put on antiretroviral treatment.

Dr Motsoaledi said, "We have to use the economies of scale and we managed to reduce the cost of ARVs by 53 percent. We also ensure that the work to be done by a person of a higher grade is done by that of a lower one thus cutting costs but not compromising on quality."

Nurses prescribe medication for resistant tuberculosis and HIV after they are trained. Initially it was done by doctors.

Motsoaledi said they always make their presentation to the National Treasury which, in most cases, understands their problem.

He attributed the success to the use of community workers who are doing a great job in the programs.

Instead of waiting for people to get sick and be treated, community workers are making sure that prevention come first, the minister said.

It is cheaper to prevent disease than to treat the ailment, he said.

Dr. Mark Blecher, SA National Treasury's Chief Director for Health and Social Development, said they support the initiatives by the Ministry of Health because they prioritise HIV/Aids.

He said they emphasize on efficiency and work on a tight fiscal rope and therefore understand the investment case by the Health Department.

It was mentioned that waiting to get funding in future would have been expensive than doing it earlier.

Dr. Mark Dybul, the Executive Director of Global Fund, said they have faith in the country to meet its goals.

He said the intervention made by the country like supporting sex workers will have a major impact in the country's healthcare system.

On reducing funding for South Africa, he said, "We look at various issues. We look at macro-epidemics like who is at risk and who is getting help and why? There are lots of issues we look at."

Executive Director of UNAIDS and Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, Michel Sidibe, said South Africa is the second in the world in terms of volume in its response to the epidemic.

"Many lives were saved. They reduced the viral load and price of drugs and we recommend that it is the biggest domestic spender on health in Africa,"he said. Enditem