Cabinet approves a plan for public HIV treatment
On 19 November 2003 Cabinet approved the Operational Plan for Comprehensive HIV and AIDS Care, Management and Treatment, committing the public health system to provide antiretroviral treatment.
Photo: TAC-activists-2.jpg · Attribution
On 19 November 2003 Cabinet approved the Operational Plan for Comprehensive HIV and AIDS Care, Management and Treatment for South Africa. In August 2003 Cabinet had asked the Department of Health for a detailed plan for antiretroviral treatment, and a national task team drew it up. The plan set out how medicines, staff, testing and monitoring would be provided through public clinics and hospitals in every province.
The decision followed years of pressure from the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC). In July 2002 the Constitutional Court ruled, in a case brought by the TAC, that limiting nevirapine for preventing mother-to-child transmission to a few pilot sites was unconstitutional. In 2003 the TAC marched on Parliament in Cape Town in February and began a campaign of civil disobedience in March.
Approval was not the same as treatment. Antiretroviral treatment in the public sector began in April 2004 and then expanded.
Why it matters
The decision reversed years of official reluctance and committed the state to what the BMJ described at the time as likely to be the world's largest AIDS treatment plan, laying the ground for a public programme that went on to reach millions of South Africans.
- Source: South African Government, "Operational Plan for Comprehensive HIV and AIDS Care, Management and Treatment for South Africa" (19 November 2003) · BMJ (Pat Sidley, 29 November 2003), "South Africa introduces world's largest AIDS treatment plan" · SAFLII, Minister of Health v Treatment Action Campaign (No 2) [2002] ZACC 15 (5 July 2002) · Health-e News, "South Africa celebrates 10 years of free HIV treatment" (4 April 2014) · Treatment Action Campaign photographs page (archived 9 December 2004), lists 'March to parliament, 14 February 2003'
Where it happened
South Africa (national policy decision)
A Cabinet policy decision applying to the public health system in all provinces. The sources consulted do not record where Cabinet met that day, so no venue is marked.
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Where it happened National
South Africa (national policy decision)
A Cabinet policy decision applying to the public health system in all provinces. The sources consulted do not record where Cabinet met that day, so no venue is marked.
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Context Approximate
Parliament, Cape Town (TAC march, 14 February 2003)
The Treatment Action Campaign marched on Parliament on 14 February 2003 to demand a treatment plan; the photograph was taken during that march. The circle marks the parliamentary precinct approximately; the route and exact spot of the photograph are not recorded.
