Civil society organisations, including the Treatment Action Campaign are urging Pres Cyril Ramaphosa to intervene with pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences over access to lenacapavir, a twice-yearly HIV prevention injection being launched in SA.
They are demanding greater supply, faster generic production and local manufacturing, saying that the planned rollout is too limited to significantly reduce new infections.
SA is expected to receive fewer than 975,000 doses over two years, far below the estimated 2m annual doses needed for major impact.
Government plans to prioritise high-risk groups as part of its HIV prevention strategy.
The President and Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi are due to launch lenacapavir in Secunda, Mpumalanga.
The injection has been widely hailed as a breakthrough because it offers near-complete protection against HIV infection when used as prescribed. – Business Day (5 June 2026)