ARVs to be made in SA
A local pharmaceutical company will soon be producing antiretrovirals in South Africa.
The Science and Technology Department says a Gauteng-based company, Ketlaphela was established two years ago.
Production is expected to begin before year end.
The department's Mmboneni Moufhe says the country previously had to import ARVs which, with the weak economy, was proving too expensive.
"If you manufacture locally, you are not importing which means you don't have to pay anything in dollars, you buy in your own rand. The second thing is the issue of security of supply.
"Towards the middle of last year, there was a shortage of ARVs. Local manufacturing will address the issue of security of supply,"he said.
(File photo: Gallo Images)