India, SA in joint Aids effort
2004-01-07 18:55
Special Report
The South African government has announced a joint venture to reduce the cost of anti-retroviral drugs with a Swiss company.
New Delhi - The Indian cabinet on Wednesday approved a health agreement with South Africa that includes measures to tackle the HIV/Aids epidemic, Health Minister Sushma Swaraj said.
The agreement covers sharing expertise in community-based programmes to deal with the spread of HIV/Aids, pharmaceutical services including registration and procurement of medicines, tackling tuberculosis and water-borne diseases, and research in cancer and cardiovascular diseases.
Swaraj told reporters the agreement was approved at a cabinet meeting chaired by Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. Similar agreements have been signed with Hungary, Yemen, Seychelles and Tanzania.
South Africa had last year identified India as a likely source of cheap generic anti-retroviral drugs, that enable people living with HIV/Aids to lead more effective lives.
- Sapa-DPA
- SAPA