On 19 February thepharmaceutical company Cipla requested the High Court to set aside the Health Department’s R15.5bn antiretroviral contract, alleging that it was unfairly excluded from major supply deals for the country’s most widely used HIV treatment, reported Business Day.
This follows the Department’s awarding key proportions of the contract for the HIV drug TLD (tenofovir, lamivudine and dolutegravir) to Barrs and Innovata.
These two firms entered business rescue in December 2025, prompting urgent contingency planning to avoid treatment disruptions.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi distanced himself from the Department’s latest antiretroviral procurement saga, telling MPs that the Department’s accounting officer, Director-General Sandile Buthelezi, carries full responsibility for procurement sign-off.
“Separately, the Competition Commission opened an investigation into the Indian generic manufacturer Hetero SA after a complaint by the Health Department alleging price collusion.”
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