Nurses welcome new ARV treatment

Nursing trade union Denosa welcomed the launch of a simplified antiretroviral medication regime.

The new treatment would minimise the number of patients who defaulted from the medication, the Democratic Nursing Organisation of SA (Denosa) said in a statement.

"This is one of the many positive strides taken by our government towards ensuring the realisation of the goal of a universal access to quality health, as it will be more convenient for patients."

Under the new treatment regime, people with HIV would take one tablet a day instead of three, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said at a roll-out in Ga-Rankuwa, north west of Pretoria.

"We believe that the roll-out of the fixed-dose combination (FDC) will assist a great deal in the management and treatment of HIV," he said in a statement.

"The FDC will improve compliance and reduce the risk of patients not complying with treatment dosage."

Motsoaledi said the "three drugs in one pill" was highly effective in reducing viral load, and would improve patients' immune response.