The Inkatha Freedom Party welcomed the out of court settlement between the pharmaceutical companies and government. In a statement issued today, the party said this now clears the way to separate the central issues from the emotive issues, about Aids medication. Dr Ruth Rabinowitz, IFP Health Spokesperson said:

"This development now places the onus upon government to demonstrate its will to use all legal remedies available to it to provide cheaper medication, such as applying for a compulsory licence to override patents if they are being exploited. This can be achieved by inviting tenders from all companies producing Aids medication. In addition, the government must immediately form partnerships with the drug companies to deliver the medication effectively."

"In terms of the agreement reached between government and the pharmaceutical companies, the government will embark on many of these steps in partnerships with them, making this settlement a victory for all concerned and not merely a backing down of the drug companies."

"The government should also realise that it is not in the long- term interests of the country to override patents arbitrarily. Nor is it in the interests of public health for the Minister of Health to provide licenses arbitrarily to third parties outside of the normal channels of control. This could expose the public to counterfeit medicines."

"We also believe that there are other effective ways to reduce medicine prices in this country. One would be to privatise the entire chain of medicine supply from suppliers to clinics to reduce theft. Another is to enable medicines to be sold by a wider variety of bulk purchasers."