It has been almost two and a half years since Parliament passed the Medicines and Related Substances Control Amendment Act on October 31, 1997. During this time the legislation has been tied up in litigation instituted by the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers' Association who argue that their patent rights will be ignored by section 15c of the new law. AIDS activists around the world have thrown their weight behind the South African government in its bid to create a legal framework to ensure more affordable drugs. Anso Thom reports.

It has been almost two and a half years since Parliament passed the Medicines and Related Substances Control Amendment Act on October 31, 1997. During this time the legislation has been tied up in litigation instituted by the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers' Association who argue that their patent rights will be ignored by section 15c of the new law. AIDS activists around the world have thrown their weight behind the South African government in its bid to create a legal framework to ensure more affordable drugs. Anso Thom reports.

Despite romantic dreams of love and fidelity, cash, cellphones and sex are the raw commodities used in the exchange of sexual favours among young South Africans. This and more emerged during the "AIDS in Context" conference held at Wits University recently. Kerry Cullinan reports.

The social security system is failing hundreds of children in one of the poorest regions of South Africa. Children hospitalised for severe malnutrition in the Mt Frere distrtict are being discharged simply to face starvation again as their child support grants fail to materialise, despite several applications being lodged.

Medical innovations such as the DNA revolution, the microchip and the Human Genome Project, along with diseases such as HIV/AIDS, have shifted the way in which medicine will be practised said Professor William Makgoba in a wide-ranging speech to the South African Medical Association

Cabinet is the latest barrier standing between HIV positive pregnant women and the anti-retroviral drug, nevirapine, which can save their babies from the virus.

Government should immediately adopt a practical plan for treating HIV positive people with drugs, challenged Judge Edwin Cameron last night at the opening of the international conference, AIDS in Context.

Confusion within the Department of Health has delayed a government plan to issue the anti-retroviral drug, nevirapine, free of charge to HIV positive pregnant women at 18 sites countrywide.

The fact that one dose may lead to the creation of an HI-virus resistant to Nevirapine is no reason in itself not to register the anti-AIDS drug, but there should be strict monitoring by the drug companies of this, according to Professor Helen Rees chairperson of the Medicines Control Council (MCC).

Scientists need to resolve how an HIV vaccine can be tested on children before the vaccine is ready for widespread human use, according to Professor Helen Rees, head of the Medicine Control Council (MCC).