The Cabinet might consider a plan within the next few days for anti-retroviral treatment at state hospitals, government spokesperson Joel Netshitenzhe said on Wednesday.
The Department of Health was still preparing documents regarding the plan for submission to the Cabinet, he told reporters in Pretoria after the executive’s fortnightly meeting.
”It is expected that the documents will be ready for submission in the next few days, in which case the Cabinet secretariat would consider the possibility of convening a special Cabinet meeting to consider the matter.”
This was an indication of how urgent it deemed the matter to be, Netshitenzhe said.
The next ordinary meeting is scheduled for November 5, but the special meeting might be convened before that, should it be logistically possible, he said.
The Cabinet instructed Minister of Health Manto Tshabalala-Msimang in August to formulate a comprehensive HIV/Aids treatment plan that includes the provision of anti-retrovirals.
She appointed a task team, headed by Dr Anthony Mbewu of the Medical Research Council, to draw up such a plan. This was done with the help of staff of the William Jefferson Clinton Foundation of the United States.
Tshabalala-Msimang received the plan three weeks ago. — Sapa