African nations must develop pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity to reduce reliance on foreign drug supplies, said Thembisile Xulu at a public health conference in Durban over the weekend. The South African National AIDS Council leader criticized external companies for blocking local production of HIV medications despite the continent's participation in clinical trials and position as the largest consumer of antiretroviral treatments.
South Africa expanded HIV prevention access to more than two million people through oral pre-exposure prophylaxis programs at 98 percent of public clinics. Xulu called for increased government spending rather than continued dependence on international donations to maintain health programs. The country plans to introduce Lenacapavir, an injectable prevention drug, to its treatment options.
Xulu told attendees that controlling HIV epidemics represents a fundamental component of universal healthcare delivery. She said pharmaceutical corporations maintain inequitable practices by denying manufacturing licenses to African producers despite the region bearing the highest disease burden.
South Africa expanded HIV prevention access to more than two million people through oral pre-exposure prophylaxis programs at 98 percent of public clinics. Xulu called for increased government spending rather than continued dependence on international donations to maintain health programs. The country plans to introduce Lenacapavir, an injectable prevention drug, to its treatment options.
Xulu told attendees that controlling HIV epidemics represents a fundamental component of universal healthcare delivery. She said pharmaceutical corporations maintain inequitable practices by denying manufacturing licenses to African producers despite the region bearing the highest disease burden.
