The National Health Department is taking immediate steps to ensure continuity of care for HIV patients following the aid freeze imposed by the Trump administration, reported Business Day (18 Feb 2025)
This follows the US government’s decision to freeze foreign aid for 90 days pending a review.
To address the problem the Health Department Director-General, Sandile Buthelezi, issued a circular directing provincial health departments to accept HIV patients without referral letters and ensure they receive immediate treatment.
The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) has been a cornerstone of HIV/AIDS funding in SA, supporting over 15,000 healthcare personnel and providing essential services to at-risk populations.