Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has reassured Parliament that he is confident in achieving its ambitious HIV treatment targets despite recent cuts in US aid. The minister’s assurance comes as a response to concerns raised by MPs regarding the potential impact of US funding reductions on South Africa’s healthcare system.
South Africa aims to provide treatment to an additional 1.1 million HIV patients by December, a critical step towards closing the country’s “treatment gap.”
The Trump administration’s decision to cut foreign aid, mainly through agencies like USAID and Pepfar (the US President’s Programme for Aids Relief), has caused global concern. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that several countries, including Lesotho, face potential shortages of HIV medication.
However, Motsoaledi emphasised that South Africa’s reliance on domestic funding mitigates the impact of these cuts. He stated that the South African fiscus funds 90% of the country’s antiretroviral medications, with the remaining 10% covered by the Global Fund.
South Africa’s HIV/AIDS burden and response
In anticipation of potential disruptions, the South African government has taken proactive measures, including issuing a circular to provinces to provide six-month supplies of medication to HIV patients. State clinics are also available for individuals who previously relied on Pepfar-funded facilities.
Despite the minister’s optimism, concerns remain among HIV scientists. A recent modelling study published in the Annals of Medicine suggests that if services provided by Pepfar-funded organisations are not effectively transitioned, it could lead to significant increases in HIV-related deaths and new infections.
Study co-author Linda-Gail Bekker, CEO of the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation, said prolonged treatment interruptions, new and missed HIV acquisitions and lost opportunities to intervene would result in more hospitalisations, lives lost, infections acquired and overall increased costs to the healthcare budget over time.
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