31 October 2002 FOR WIDEST DISTRIBUTION * Below is a full report-back of Nedlac meetings on the National Treatment Plan. Please continue the campaign to fax letters of support for the Nedlac negotiations for an HIV/AIDS treatment plan to Mr Phillip Dexter, Executive Director of Nedlac (fax: 011 447 6053 or 011 447 2089). But please copy, or even better - write directly to, Deputy President Jacob Zuma (fax: 021 464 227 or 012 323 3114), expressing support for the Nedlac process. * We have learnt from a local pharmacist that Merck has raised the price of Efavirenz in South Africa, despite (1) publicising in the Business Day and the Cape Times that it would drop the price 25% and (2) the South African Rand strengthening significantly against the US Dollar in recent weeks. The price of Efavirenz has risen from R388.26 to R434.17 for a pack of 90 200mg pills. This is yet another example that the only sustainable way of keeping antiretroviral prices down is through generic competition. Pharmaceutical companies cannot be trusted to keep prices down (or their promises, it seems) when they are not the focus of public attention. * TAC and H.O.P.E. will be jointly hosting an event called "Give HIV a Face" at Tygerberg Hospital's Disa Hall on Sunday, 3 November. Archbishop Ndungane, as well as TAC members living openly with HIV will speak at this destigmatisation event. Everyone is invited. Further queries: Dr. Susanne Reuther: 082 973 0370. * We are looking for an International Co-ordinator. See the advert below the Nedlac Report-back. Apologies, the last time we placed this ad on this newsletter, the fax number was incorrect. ********************************************************** Report-back of Nedlac meetings on the National Treatment Plan By Mark Heywood TAC National Secretary & Nedlac Community Sector representative Please distribute widely In July 2002 TAC and COSATU formally tabled the resolutions of the TAC / COSATU National Treatment Congress with the National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC). In response the Nedlac Management Committee resolved to establish a special HIV/AIDS Task Team with the objective of drafting and agreeing a Framework Agreement for a National Treatment Plan by December 1st 2002. The Task team is composed of two senior representatives from each of the Nedlac constituencies: 1.Ebrahim Patel (General Secretary, SA Clothing and Textile Workers Union) and Randall Howard (General Secretary, SA Transport and Allied Workers Union) on behalf of labour; 2.Mr Vic van Vuuren and Raymond Parsons on behalf of business; 3.Adv Rams Ramashia (Director General, Department of Labour), Dr Nono Simelela (Chief Director HIV/AIDS and STDs) and Les Ketteldas (Labour Department) on behalf of government; and 4.Fadila Lagadien (Disabled People SA) and Mark Heywood (TAC National Secretary) on behalf of the community. 5.The Task Team is chaired by Nedlac Director, Phillip Dexter. Since it was established the Task Team has had three meetings. At the first meeting on October 3rd the constituencies agreed to develop a framework agreement for a National Treatment Plan, and to make written submissions to Nedlac on this Framework by October 10th. The terms of reference for submissions were: Key principles which unite the parties; Targets, timeframes and resources for prevention and treatment; Anti-retroviral treatment pilot; Review mechanism. These submissions were collated into the first draft of a Framework Agreement that has been discussed at two subsequent meetings (October 23 and 24th) and further refined into a second draft. The negotiations that have taken place so far reveal the challenges ahead. Although important parts of the draft have been accepted, government in particular requested that large portions be taken back to their constituency for a further mandate. All sections of the original draft that refer to the use of anti-retroviral medicines have been held back for further discussion. The only concessions that government has made here is that HAART works, and that the challenges to do with provision of ARV treatment can be overcome. Government must now finalise its views on these parts of the Framework Agreement by November 9th. Although the discussions have gone well there are several sticking points: 1.There is resistance from government to calling this a National Treatment Plan - on the grounds that there are already plans for treatment. This is likely to become one of the main points for conflict, as it is essential that we hold to the concept of a National Treatment Plan. 2.Government does not want to accept hard targets and timeframes around expanding VCT and treating opportunistic infections. My sense is that there is an unwillingness to make commitments that will demand substantial additional resources if they are to be met. 3.Although government has acknowledged the efficacy of ARVs, thus far they have been unwilling to make any commitments that go beyond the April 17th Cabinet statement. The Draft Framework agreement contains detailed proposals from labour and community for a pilot ARV phase in year one that aims to create capacity to treat 100,000 people in the public and private sector. These proposals have not yet been discussed. It is important that pressure be stepped up on business and government to support these proposals. Business in particular needs to be vigorously lobbied to come up with an unambiguous statement of support for a National Treatment Plan and to support proposals for an ARV pilot phase. What conclusions can we draw so far? The start of the Nedlac process is an important victory for TAC and COSATU's mobilization and a national Framework Agreement would greatly improve HIV prevention and treatment in SA. Although government has been forced to participate in this process, government as a whole is not on board and is not aware of the implications of this process if it results in a National Framework Agreement. There is no sense of high level political commitment to this process. TAC call on its supporters to write to write to the Deputy President supporting the Nedlac process (fax: 021 464 227 or 012 323 3114). The government representatives clearly do not have a mandate to move forward on the issue of anti-retroviral treatment. In the meeting on 24th October, Adv Ramashia stated: "we have been advised that there are discussions around this matter and that to go with what has been proposed would pre-empt these discussions. It has reached an advanced stage, and at the next meeting we would be able to say one way or another." In their submission to the first draft of the Framework Agreement government accepted the principle of a pilot phase and endorsed the WHO Guidelines on Scaling Up ARV use in developing countries. However, since then the have asked for their own paragraphs making these concessions to be withdrawn! Pressure on the issue of an ARV component and the need for pilot sites needs to be stepped up. We call on supporters in SA and internationally to continue to write to NEDLAC endorsing this process. Mark letters for the attention of the HIV/AIDS Task Team, c/o Mr Phillip Dexter, Executive Director (fax: 011 447 6053 or 011 447 2089). M Heywood 29 October 2001 ***************** TAC Position Available for International Office Co-ordinator ------------------------------------------------------------ The TAC is establishing an international office. The purpose of this office will be to manage the organisation's growing international demands. The requirements of the co-ordinator will be as follows: * Liaise, plan, organise and work together with the member organisations of the Pan African Treatment Access Movement (PATAM). * Co-ordinate or conduct research efforts into HIV-related issues in a number of African countries. * Liaise with oversees organisations who assist the TAC or require our assistance. The successful applicant is likely to have the following characteristics: * Experience in organising with activist groups, especially work related to HIV/AIDS. * Knowledge of science and politics of HIV/AIDS and knowledge of African political and cultural dynamics. * Negotiating skills. * Experience conducting research or co-ordinating research efforts. The co-ordinator will be required to work in the TAC national office in Cape Town. Relocation costs and salary are negotiable. Candidates living openly with HIV are also encouraged to apply. CVs will be accepted by post or fax only. No email CVs will be considered. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Please post applications to: PO Box 74 Nonkqubela 7793 Please fax applications to: 021 788 3726 Closing Date for applications: November 20, 2002 ************************************************** [END OF EMAIL]