3 December 2002 TAC CONDEMNS DELAYS BY GOVERNMENT AND BUSINESS AT NEDLAC EXPRESS YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE TREATMENT PLAN - FAX NEDLAC, PHONE AND FAX THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND THE GOVERNMENT AND BUSINESS NEGOTIATORS AT NEDLAC CALL FOR GOVERNMENT AND BUSINESS TO SIGN TREATMENT PLAN AGREEMENT BY 6 DECEMBER 2002 Nedlac fax: 011 447 6053 Government Negotiator at Nedlac, Rams Ramashia: 082 925 2303; (phone) 012 309 4560 Vic Van Vuuren, Business Sector Negotiator: (phone) 021 947 2612 Raymond Parsons, Business Sector Negotiator: (phone) 011 717 8065 Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, Minister of Health: Tel: (012) 328 4773-5; 082 772 0161; Fax (012) 325 5526 Nono Simelela, Chief Director of the HIV/AIDS Directorate: 082 578 1515 (Some of the above numbers will get through to personal assistants. Please leave a message of support for the Treatment Plan and call for Government and Business to sign the agreement now.) TAC STATEMENT The Treatment Action Campaign condemns the delays being caused by government and business in the signing of the Framework Agreement for a National Prevention and Treatment Plan. TAC volunteers and supporters welcomed the reports of great progress and constructive engagement between the constituencies in the negotiations. But we are disappointed that the opportunity to announce the Agreement on World AIDS day was lost and turned into a demoralizing controversy. We remind Nedlac that each day wasted is a day in which lives are lost, and opportunities missed to put our country onto a path of collaboration, partnership and mobilization to save lives by preventing new infections and using treatment to save lives. Recently, we have placed confidence in commitments made to us by the Deputy President and in Cabinet statements, regarding a comprehensive response that includes expanding anti-retroviral treatment. However, we are beginning to wonder whether TAC is being misled. It seems that government is unable to turn policy into practice. In particular, government seems obsessed with preventing implementation in one area: anti-retrovirals. It seems that a policy decision that should be primarily determined by health experts, most of whom have supported the rollout of antiretroviral therapy, is being subject to repeated political delays that cost lives. Further, although government says more research is necessary, it turns down opportunities to engage researchers. This weekend, for example, Dr Nono Simelela, chief director of the HIV/AIDS Directorate, failed without apology to attend and make a presentation to a Nelson Mandela Foundation hosted national workshop that analysed the experiences of doctors and nurses who are treating patients with ARVs in different settings all over SA. No official of the National Ministry of Health attended the meeting. We are similarly angered at the approach of business. Business leaders do not hesitate to speak out on the impact of HIV on the economy, investment and productivity. Even the JSE has announced that it is considering company performance and policy around HIV as a criteria for listed companies. But when business is asked to make concrete and co-ordinated, rather than ad hoc and limited commitments, it fails. This is not good enough. TAC believes in partnership. We believe in our joint capabilities to save lives and prevent infections. We call on NEDLAC to ensure that agreement is reached and announced by December 6th 2002. For further information: Sipho Mthati 072 424 7180; 021 788 3507 Zackie Achmat 083 467 1152