Nevirapine for MTCT Transmission

Effort to Make the Government Provide Nevirapine to Pregnant HIV+ Women to Prevent Mother-to-Child Transmition of HIV

December 14, 2001: The Treatment Access Campaign (TAC) won a lawsuit against the South African Minister of Health, Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, and nine provincial Health Ministers, forcing the government to provide nevirapine through the public health sector for the prevention of Mother To Child Transmition of HIV. Approximately 200 HIV+ babies are born each day in South Africa, and use of nevirapine can reduce Mother To Child Transmitions by half.

December 19, 2001: Manto Tshabalala-Msimang annouces that the government will develop a "a dynamic and well-articulated MTCT prevention programme," but that it will also appeal the Judge's ruling.

January-February, 2002: Doctors, NGOs, trade unions, religious leaders, and members of provincial and local governments strongly oppose the stance of the national Ministry of Health. Some doctors illegally prescribe nevirapine to pregnant women, and two provinical health ministers defy the national government and announce that they will provide nevirapine for the prevention of mother-to-child transmition of HIV within their provinces.

April 17, 2002: The government reverses its position. It annouces that it plans to have a universal MTCT nevirapine program in place by next year and it offered state-funded anti-retroviral treatment to rape victims for the first time.

May 2, 2002: The government appeals the case to the Constitutional Court.

Government and Legal Documents

April 17, 2002. Government of South Africa. Cabinet Statement on HIV/AIDS.

March 11, 2002. Judgement on Leave to Appeal from Judge Chris Botha.

December 14, 2001.Excerpt of the ruling from Judge Chris Botha.

Legal documents submitted by TAC.

TAC Statements

December 19, 2001. Minister Tshabalala-Msimang Save Lives, Act Urgently with Reason and Humility.

December 14, 2001. TAC, CHILDREN'S RIGHTS CENTRE AND DR. HAROON SALOOJEE WIN COURT BATTLE AGAINST GOVERNMENT!

December 13, 2001. Judgement to Be Handed Down in Mother-To-Child Transmission Case by the Pretoria High Court On Friday 14 December 2001 at 10h00.

November 19, 2001. TAC Appeals for Global Solidarity in Mother-To-Child-Transmission (MTCT) Court Case.

October 31, 2001. Memorandum on the Mother-to-Child Case for TAC Activists and International Supporters.

October 18, 2001. Open Letter to Minister of Health: SETTLE THE MTCT COURT CASE BEFORE HEARING 26-27 NOVEMBER 2001.

August 22, 2001. South African AIDS activists sue government Struggle to save lives extends from the streets to the courtroom

Other Statements

April 18, 2002. UNAIDS press release. UNAIDS Welcomes South African Government's Renewed Commitment to HIV/AIDS.
March 28, 2002. COSATU Statement on Nevirapine.
March 23, 2002. Statement of 22 South African Doctors. Vertical HIV transmission in South Africa: translating research into policy and practice.
March 22, 2002. Joint statement by the World Health Organization and UNAIDS. WHO and UNAIDS Continue to Support Use of Nevirapine for Prevention of Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission.
December 19, 2001. Response of Health Minister and MECs to Judgment on Nevirapine.
December 13, 2001. Judgement to Be Handed Down in Mother-To-Child Transmission Case by the Pretoria High Court On Friday 14 December 2001 at 10h00.
Health GAP Statement on the lawsuit.
November 21, 2001. Human Rights Watch. Press release and open letter to President Mbeki. South Africa: Stop Court Fight on AIDS Drugs.

Misc.

February 20, 2003. George J. Annas. New England Journal of Medicine, Volume 348:750-754, no. 8. The Right to Health and the Nevirapine Case in South Africa.

News Stories

March 21, 2003. Mantshele Wa Ga Tau for Bua News. Western Cape to Provide Nevirapine to All Pregnant HIV-Positive Women.
June 6, 2002. Siphokazi Memela for BuaNews. North West to Announce Nevirapine Roll-Out.
May 13, 2002. Andrew Maykuth for the Philadelphia Inquirer. S. African AIDS activists see new government attitude.
May 6, 2002. South African Press Association. Constitutional Court Reserves Judgement.
May 2, 2002. South African Press Association. AIDS Rally Packs Cape Town Cathedral.
May 2, 2002. Wambui Chege for Reuters. AIDS dispute goes to court: South Africa fights legal requirement on providing drugs.
April 22, 2002. Wyndham Hartley for Business Day. Officials urge AIDS dissidents to stop misusing Mbeki's name.
April 21, 2002. Barnaby Phillips for the BBC. SA Aids drug u-turn welcomed.
April 20, 2002. Business Day. Mbeki shuns Aids dissidents.
April 19, 2002. Karen MacGregor for the Independent. South Africa bows to pressure on treating Aids.
April 19, 2002. Rachel Swarns for the New York Times. South Africa to Offer AIDS Drugs.
April 19, 2002. Sandy Kalyan (MP Democratic Alliance Spokesperson on Social Development for the Democratic Alliance). Letter to the Editor of the Financial Times. DA extends drug debate.
April 19, 2002. Vuyo Mvoko for Business Day. 'About-turn? What about-turn? There is no major shift in policy'.
April 19, 2002. Mungo Soggot for the Guardian. S Africa drops Aids drug objections.
April 19, 2002. Rena Singer for the Boston Globe. South Africa lifts its barrier to AIDS drugs.
April 18, 2002. Ravi Nessman for the Associated Press. Activists Hail South African AIDS Move.
April 18, 2002. Christi van der Westhuizen for Beeld News Service. Government Does About-Turn On AIDS.
April 17, 2002. Reuters. S. Africa Announces Sweeping AIDS Policy Shift.
April 11, 2002. Tamar Kahn for Business Day. Activists offer advice over AIDS court ruling.
April 8, 2002. John Mkhize for Black Voices. S. Africa court: Offer HIV drug.
April 4, 2002. Ravi Nessman for the Associated Press. South African court orders government to provide AIDS drug.
April 4, 2002. South African Press Association. Govt must hand out Aids drug until May.
April 3, 2002. Business Day. Nevirapine Litigation Resumes.
March 28, 2002. Opinion column by Belinda Beresford in the Mail and Guardian. The Regime VS the Regimen.
March 25, 2002. Reuters. Court: South African Gov't Must Provide AIDS Drug.
March 22, 2002. Agence France Presse. Scientists Fire Broadside at Mbeki in HIV Row.
March 22, 2002. Reuters. South Africa Urged to Increase Use of AIDS Drugs.
March 11, 2002. South African Press Association. Nevirapine: Appeal Granted.
March 11, 2002. Penny Dale for OneWorld Africa. Court Ruling Brings AIDS Drug Within Reach of South African Women.
February 23, 2002. Ann Simmons for the LA Times. South Africa Clarifies AIDS Drug Policy.
February 22, 2002. News24.com. Minister Relents on AIDS Plan.
February 5, 2002. Rachel Swarns for the New York Times. A Bold Move on AIDS in South Africa.
February 5, 2002. BBC News. South Africa doctors join Aids row.
December 31, 2001. Editorial in the Chicago Tribune. South Africa's Failure with AIDS.
December 20, 2001. The Mail and Guardian. HIV/Aids Battle Moves Beyond Drugs.
December 20, 2001. South African Press Association. Gauteng MEC backs Nevirapine plan.
December 19, 2001. Steven Swindells for Reuters. South Africa Government to Appeal AIDS Ruling.
December 19, 2001. CNN. South Africa to appeal on AIDS ruling.
December 19, 2001. South African Press Association. Churches to Back TAC on AIDS Call.
December 15, 2001. Chris McGreel for the Guardian. Court Orders Mbeki to Provide AIDS Drug.
December 14, 2001. Steven Swindells for Reuters. South African Activists Win AIDS Drug Case.
December 14, 2001. Dina Kraft for the Associated Press. South Africa Loses AIDS Lawsuit.
December 14, 2001. BBC. SA ordered to provide Aids drugs.
December 14, 2001. Claire Keeton for the Daily Mail and Guardian. SA government ordered to provide Nevirapine.
November 30, 2001. Belinda Beresford for the Daily Mail and Guardian. The low point in the Aids battle.
November 28, 2001. Louise Cook for Business Day. State is defending the indefensible.
November 27, 2001. Associated Press. South African Government: Pregnant Women Have No Right to AIDS Drug.
November 27, 2001. Wambui Chege for the Associated Press. S.African Govt. Says Key Anti-AIDS Drug Too Costly.
November 27, 2001. Rachel Swarns for the New York Times. A Move to Force South Africa to Give AIDS Drug for Newborns.
November 27, 2001. Busines Day. TAC and government battle it out in court.
November 27, 2001. Business Day editorial. A No-Win Situation.
November 27, 2001. Charlayne Hunter-Gault for CNN. Battle over AIDS drug in S. Africa.
November 26, 2001. Pat Sidley for Business Day. State Considers Access to Drug.
November 26, 2001. Dina Kraft for the Associated Press. Court Battle Begins Over Drug Access.
November 26, 2001. South African Press Association. AIDS Drug Policy 'Insane.'
November 26, 2001. South African Press Association. AIDS March on Parliament.
November 26, 2001. South African Press Association. AIDS Drugs for All - Judge.
November 23, 2001. Johanessburg Mail and Guardian. HIV/Aids: TAC Vs State.
November 20, 2001. Simphiwe Xako for Business Day. HIV/Aids Group Plans Marches.
August 24, 2001. Kerry Cullinan for News 24. 'Free" AIDS Drug Still Not Available.
August 22, 2001. Ravi Nessman forthe Associated Press. South Africa Is Sued Over AIDS Drug.
August 22, 2001. Business Day. Doctors Join Suit Against Minister.
August 21, 2001. News 24. TAC to Take Government to Court.
August 21, 2001. Business Day. State Now Says 'No Problem' to AIDS Drug.
August 16, 2001. UN Integrated Regional Information Network. Treatment Action Campaign Takes Government to Court On AIDS Drug

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