Global fund apologies to South African Minister of Health
Feachem's media interview in London gave rise to reports that the South African government had delayed the disbursement of Global Fund grants to local beneficiaries.
Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang wrote directly to Feachem giving him a precise record of global transfers made to beneficiaries within the country, as well as a document highlighting the fact that grants made in the second and third round allocations had yet to be disbursed by the Fund.
Feachem, in clarifying that the Global Fund is not threatening to withdraw any funds said, "We are encouraged by recent progress and are confident that the programmes supported by the Fund will contribute substantially to South Africa's struggle with HIV/Aids."
The Global Fund has approved proposals for HIV/Aids prevention, treatment and care worth $234m (R1,51bn) over the next five years.
In other news making headlines, German facial surgeons questioned plans yesterday by US doctors to carry out face transplants. Doctors at a congress in Aachen acknowledged that face transplants were now technically possible, but warned of psychological risks. Prof Dieter Riediger told the conference, experience with the world's first hand transplant in the US had shown the patient had become alienated towards his new hand and wanted it amputated.
South African Medical Association
Scuzele de a Fondului Global de Sud Africa Ministrul sãnãtãþii - Global fund apologies to South African Minister of Health - articole medicale engleza - startsanatate