[Ip-health] News-Clip - Eight firms shortlisted to supply Aids drugs

[Orlando Roman]

Business Report South Africa
http://www.busrep.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=561&fArticleId=2261995

Eight firms shortlisted to supply Aids drugs
October 15, 2004

By Neesa Moodley

Durban - Eight companies have been shortlisted for the government's three-year antiretroviral supply tender, and the health department is currently negotiating prices with these companies.

Anban Pillay, the director of pharmaceutical pricing at the health department, said he could not reveal the names of the companies at this stage.

He confirmed, however, that the companies had been negotiating and discussing prices with the department over the last three days.

The shortlisted companies are five multinational companies and three generic companies.

Two of the generic companies are Aspen Pharmacare and Thembalami Pharmaceuticals, which is a joint venture between Adcock Ingram and Indian manufacturer Ranbaxy.

Pillay said the shortlisted companies would return to the health department next week with revised, lower prices after this week's negotiations.

"We are trying to keep the tender process fair, and all eight companies are being given a chance to renew their proposals after our discussions."


He said the tender process had already been delayed and the health department was hoping to decide which proposals were feasible by the last week of October.

The Tender Board will reveal which companies have won the tender, and Pillay said this would happen before December.

The health department has previously indicated that the tender would not be awarded to just one company, but to a number of companies.

Although the tender is for three years, if a company contravenes the health department's requirements at any stage, the contract will be immediately cancelled and given to another company.

The three-year tender is expected to cover 150 000 lives in the first year, 300 000 lives in the second year and 600 000 lives in the third year.

Aspen Pharmacare has local manufacturing facilities in Port Elizabeth, while Thembalami Pharmaceuticals will import products manufactured by Adcock Ingram's partner, Ranbaxy, in India.