MSF have reported funding cuts for health in South Africa as a result of the financial crisis, and have critisised national and international donors for failing to step up to provide the required funding.

They describe clinics in South Africa that are unable to enrol newly diagnosed HIV-positive patients due to a lack of ARVs. The number of patients dying before having the opportunity to start treatment is therefore likely to increase. Previously successful ARV treatment programmes are reportedly falling apart rapidly. The patent pool is recommended as an option for aiding this financial challenge.

The MSF report demands greater access to 1st and 2nd line ARVs, as well as cheaper tests to detrmine treatment failure, to prevent not only potential irreversable immune system damage, but also to reduce the chance for treatment resistance.

For the full article, see http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/339/jul20_2/b2966?maxtoshow=
For more information about MSF’s Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines see http://www.msfaccess.org/

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