Johannesburg - The ANC is considering establishing a
state-owned pharmaceutical company, secretary general Gwede Mantashe said on
Tuesday.
"Serious discussions started at the lekgotla on
starting a state pharmaceutical company," he told reporters at Luthuli
House.
"It's not just an idea...(it has been) given back to
the cabinet to say, 'look into it'... there was a compelling case for it,"
Mantashe said after a four-day ANC national executive committee lekgotla.
South Africa consumes 25% of antiretrovirals available in
the world.
The lekgotla received a report on health, showing a dramatic
increase in the number of people tested for HIV/Aids. It has increased sixfold,
from two million per annum to 12 million per annum.
There has also been a "dramatic increase" in the
number of people accessing treatment.