The pharmaceutical industry, in support of government, plays a key role in broadening access to ARTs in South Africa and while the increased percentage of those living with HIV stems from new infections, it can be viewed as a reflection of the industry's efforts to broaden access to affordable, generic treatments.
Paul Miller, CEO of Medpro Pharmaceutica
The development of a successfully expanded antiretroviral treatment (ART) programme that allows people with HIV to live significantly longer has led to a greater percentage of HIV-infected South Africans remaining in society, according to the 2014 Human Sciences Research Council's (HSRC) National HIV Prevalence, Incidence and Behaviour Survey.
This is according to Paul Miller, CEO of Medpro Pharmaceutica, a subsidiary company of Cipla Medpro, who says that the government tenders, aimed at broadening access to first line, 3-in-1 antiretroviral fixed dose combinations, has been instrumental in this process.
The HSRC found that the total number of infected South Africans now stands at 6.4-million, 1.2-million more than in 2008. ART access almost doubled between 2008 and 2012, with about a third of the country's HIV-infected population accessing ART in 2012.
"With an estimated 6.4-million people (approximately 13% of the country's adult population) living with HIV in South Africa, Cipla, in partnership with government and healthcare professionals, remains committed to increasing awareness of the disease," says Miller
The organisation is currently developing unique fixed dose combinations (FDCs) and formulations and will continue to promote new molecules and innovative fixed-dose combinations as well as licencing agreements to ensure fair returns for investors and affordable prices for patients.
"We will keep delivering these affordable combinations in contentment of our ethos that none shall be denied," concludes Miller.
