The MEC for Health Ms Ntombi Mekgwe would like to assure the people of Gauteng that the availability of the antiretroviral drug, tenofovir, has improve substantially in the province over the past weeks.
Pharmaceutical companies have been supplying the drug to the department’s medical supply depot every week since the beginning of May to increase the availability of life prolonging medicine. The depot has in turn been distributing the drug to clinics and hospitals as soon as it receives it.
The Premier Ms Nomvula Mokonyane and the MEC visited the depot yesterday afternoon to satisfy themselves of the availability of drugs. They saw the consignments of drugs that had recently been received.
However there is still a challenge with the availability of one anti-retroviral drug, abacavir. The department has been informed that manufacturers have been unable to supply the drug because of a worldwide shortage of ingredients to manufacture it.
The MEC will outline plans that the department has put in place to ensure a constant and reliable supply of medicines when she tables her budget in the provincial legislature this morning.
The media is invited to attend the tabling of the budget as follows:
Venue: Gauteng Provincial Legislature
Time: 10h00
Contact person:
Simon Zwane
Cell: 082 551 9892
ARV availabity improves in Gauteng
Province
