SOUTH AFRICA: PMTCT continues despite Nevirapine controversy

JOHANNESBURG, 25 August 2004 (PlusNews) - A programme for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) will continue in South Africa's Gauteng province, provincial health minister Gwen Ramokgopa has announced.

Use of the anti-AIDS drug Nevirapine as a single dose in PMTCT programmes is currently under further research following claims by the Medicines Control Council (MCC) that the drug could create resistance in some HIV-positive expectant mothers.

The MCC suggested that a combination of antiretrovirals be used for PMTCT instead and the Ministry of Health is expected to make a final recommendation to cabinet on future HIV/AIDS treatment methods as soon as the research is concluded.

BuaNews, the government news agency, quoted Ramokgopa as saying, "The Gauteng Department of Health will use the national guidelines once the team has finalised them."