Cosatu and TAC table a National HIV/AIDS plan

On 28 June 2002 the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) and the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) tabled a national HIV/AIDS treatment plan in the National Economic, Development and Labour Council (Nedlac). This was intended to allow Cosatu to declare a dispute with government and business should there be no agreement reached in Nedlac on the implementation of the treatment plan. A key aspect of the plan involved making antiretroviral drugs available in the public health sector for those with HIV. Both Cosatu and TAC emphasised that, although the drugs were expensive, the social and economic costs to South Africa, of not providing the drugs, were far higher. Zwelinzima Vavi, General Secretary of Cosatu believed that government was in a position to produce generic antiretroviral drugs for the whole of Africa. He criticised them for spending billions on an arms deal while its citizens are dying from HIV/AIDS in tens of thousands. According to Cosatu, to increase generic production would reduce costs, stimulate the local pharmaceutical industry and provide jobs. In contradistinction to the government's strategy of denial of home-based care to HIV/Aids sufferers, Cosatu and TAC said their plan was aimed at keeping millions alive for longer.