MCC fast-tracks Aids meds

The Medicines Control Council (MCC) has fast-tracked the registration of 65 antiretroviral drugs, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said on Monday.

The anti-Aids drugs were given priority while the MCC tried to clear a backlog of more than 4000 medicines which had been awaiting registration since 2007 and longer, he said in response to a parliamentary question.

Motsoaledi said the MCC currently still had 1503 applications on its backlog, which he blamed on personnel, financial and structural problems at the council.

All registration applications for ARVs had been reviewed and those still unregistered either did not meet requirements, or the companies had failed thus far to respond to the MCC's recommendations.

South Africa has the world's biggest Aids treatment programme. - (Sapa, July 2010)