Spokesperson for the department, Sibani Mngadi said that most of the drugs cost less than the last tender with percentage decreases ranging between 20 and 71 percent. The only drug which increased in price(by 24%) was efavirenz 200mg.
Mngadi attributed the reduction in price to the ‘higher volumes and generic entry and a more competitive climate’.
Aspen Pharmacare was the biggest winner with 56,8% of the R3,615-billion tender awarded to the generic manufacturer. The awards varied from 1,9% to 56.8% of the total value, spread over six suppliers.
GlaxoSmithKline was awarded 6,9% of the tender, Adcock Ingram 20,9%, MSD 9,1%, Medpro 1,9% and Sonke 4,5%.
Mngadi said six items had not been awarded and arrangements for their procurement would 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,’ said Mngadi.
He claimed that the South African government ARV tender was the largest in the world and that the accumulative number of patients initiated on ARVs was more than 478 000 by the end of April 2008. ‘ health-e news service
