/ 6 May 2002

TAC, govt still slugging it out over nevirapine

THE Treatment Action Campaign’s (TAC) battle with the government over its

antiretroviral programme is set to continue in the Constitutional Court on

Monday.

The 11 judges are to hear argument from counsel for the University of the

Western Cape’s Community Law Centre, the Institute for Democracy in SA and

Cotlands Baby Sanctuary.

These organisations have joined the TAC in support of the Pretoria High

Court judgment ordering a roll-out of the government nevirapine programme as

”friends of the court”.

The court is also to hear argument from counsel for KwaZulu-Natal Premier

Lionel Mtshali.

The court is hearing the appeal of Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang

and seven health MECs against a Pretoria High Court judgment ordering them

to make the drug available to all HIV-positive pregnant women where

medically indicated and where the women have been tested and counselled. –

Sapa