South Africa has among the highest number of drug-resistant TB patients in the world, yet the country does not benefit from a donation programme in which countries get a new life-saving medicine for free.
This is according to a Doctors without Borders report released today, World TB Day.
Bedaquiline is the first new TB drug in 50 years and cures more than 75% of drug resistant South African patients.
Without bedaquiline, the cure rate drops to 40%.
Bedaquiline was marketed at $3000 (R46000) for a six-month course but Department of Health negotiations saw its manufacturer, Janssen, agreeing to charge SA R10000.
But soon after the agreement was reached, USAid and Janssen agreed on a donation programme in which more than 30000 courses of treatment were made available for free to India and other countries over four years.
According to Doctors without Borders South Africa did not benefit from the donation.
At least 15000 people get drug resistant TB each year in the country.
Bedaquiline is not the only drug that South Africa is paying more for.
Linezolid, which is used for the most severely resistant TB patients, is sold to the Global Fund, a NGO that is funded through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, for $5 (R75).
But South Africa pays R655 for the drug.
Doctors without Borders called on Sanofi and Pfizer which sells Linezolid to drop their prices.
Neither responded to requests for comment.
The Minister of Health won an award for his role in fighting TB from USAid in Washington last week.
The Department of Health was instrumental in forcing a drug company to allow other suppliers to manufacture their drug in order to alleviate regular shortages.
Last year, Abbvie, the HIV division of pharmaceutical company Abbot, could not meet demand for Aluvia a second line ARV given when people no longer respond to the commonly prescribed treatment
SA, the largest buyer, provides this drug for about 300000 patients.
But Abbvie held the patent to the life-saving drug despite being unable to meet global demand.
The Department of Health put pressure on the company and Abbvie eventually relented and said they would allow other companies to make the drug despite it being under patent.
SA loses out on free drug-resistant TB treatment
This is according to a Doctors without Borders report released today, World TB Day.
Bedaquiline is the first new TB drug in 50 years and cures more than 75% of drug resistant South African patients.
Without bedaquiline, the cure rate drops to 40%.
Bedaquiline was marketed at $3000 (R46000) for a six-month course but Department of Health negotiations saw its manufacturer, Janssen, agreeing to charge SA R10000.
But soon after the agreement was reached, USAid and Janssen agreed on a donation programme in which more than 30000 courses of treatment were made available for free to India and other countries over four years.
According to Doctors without Borders South Africa did not benefit from the donation.
At least 15000 people get drug resistant TB each year in the country.
Bedaquiline is not the only drug that South Africa is paying more for.
Linezolid, which is used for the most severely resistant TB patients, is sold to the Global Fund, a NGO that is funded through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, for $5 (R75).
But South Africa pays R655 for the drug.
Doctors without Borders called on Sanofi and Pfizer which sells Linezolid to drop their prices.
Neither responded to requests for comment.
The Minister of Health won an award for his role in fighting TB from USAid in Washington last week.
The Department of Health was instrumental in forcing a drug company to allow other suppliers to manufacture their drug in order to alleviate regular shortages.
Last year, Abbvie, the HIV division of pharmaceutical company Abbot, could not meet demand for Aluvia a second line ARV given when people no longer respond to the commonly prescribed treatment
SA, the largest buyer, provides this drug for about 300000 patients.
But Abbvie held the patent to the life-saving drug despite being unable to meet global demand.
The Department of Health put pressure on the company and Abbvie eventually relented and said they would allow other companies to make the drug despite it being under patent.
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