The Department of Health has assured South Africans that the supply of antiretroviral (ARV) medicines will not be disrupted following a High Court ruling overturning parts of the R15.5 billion ARV tender. The court declared two awards, covering one- and three-month packs of dolutegravir, lamivudine and tenofovir, unconstitutional and invalid after Cipla Medpro challenged the allocation process. Cipla argued that the two awards involved identical medicines in different quantities and should not have been separated. The department has 120 days to reconsider and reallocate the affected awards. The court also disqualified Innovata and Viatris from reconsideration because their tender applications relied on expired licences. Although the judgment requires procurement changes, the department insists that existing ARV distribution will continue uninterrupted. It has committed to ensuring transparent, legally compliant procurement while maintaining reliable supplies of quality-assured medicines for patients dependent on the public healthcare system. – MedicalBrief (6 Nov 2026)
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