Issued by Department of Health
26 June 2008
The Department of Health has awarded a tender to the value of R3, 615 billion over two years for procurement of antiretroviral drugs to support the implementation of the comprehensive response to HIV and AIDS in the country.
We are delighted to note that with most of the items, the price is lower than it was in the last tender. The percentage decrease ranges from 20% to 71%. Only one item (efavirenz 200mg which has sole supplier) shows an increase of 24%. We attribute the reduction in price to the higher volumes and generic entry and a more competitive climate.
The awards vary from 1,9% to 56.8% of the total value, spread over six suppliers.
The tender was awarded as follows:
Six items have not been awarded and arrangements for their procurement will soon be made.
The awarding of this tender once again demonstrates the continued commitment of the Department of Health to expanding access to HIV and AIDS related treatment. We have to ensure that there is adequate and uninterrupted supply of the necessary medicine to the accredited treatment centres across the country.
The South African government ARV tender is the largest in the world and it is gradually being scaled up to meet the growing number of HIV and Aids patients that are being enrolled in the government AIDS treatment programme. The accumulative number of patients initiated on ARVs was more than 478 000 by end of April 2008 which constitutes the highest number of people initiated on ARV treatment in any other country.
Contact: Sibani Mngadi @ 0827720161