Two provinces have started providing Diflucan (fluconazole) to state patients in accordance with an agreement concluded last year by the Department of Health and Pfizer.

In Gauteng and the Western Cape hospitals are providing Diflucan to patients who require it and other facilities in at least four other provinces will follow soon. In the Western Cape, Diflucan is currently available at academic hospitals and will gradually be introduced into other facilities.

In Gauteng, all academic and large regional hospitals have the drug available for use. The Northern Cape will be providing Diflucan before the week is out, with Free State, KwaZulu-Natal and Northern Province ready to follow.

In terms of the agreement, Pfizer has agreed to supply R375 million worth of Diflucan for HIV/AIDS patients attending government hospitals and clinics.

The drug is used to treat cryptococcal meningitis and oesophageal candidiasis. These opportunistic infections affect large numbers of people with HIV/AIDS.

“We decided to adopt the approach of phasing in Diflucan, so that we could begin to make it available as soon as possible. Health professionals in our academic hospitals needed very little training or guidance, so we started there,” said Health Minister Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang.

“Pfizer’s involvement in this initiative goes beyond the donation of the drug. The company is also equipping health care practitioners with knowledge of the drug, by funding a series of training workshops. This training is key, as it will ensure proper administration, compliance and follow-up procedures,” she added.  

Barry Smith, CEO of Pfizer SA said: “This programme’€™s success demonstrates that public-private partnerships of this kind are beneficial to those communities most in need. Pfizer is always willing to assist in improving the quality of life and access to treatment for those who need it most.”

Pfizer’€™s offer came after the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) challenged the manufacturer to lower its price for fluconazole to R4 per 200mg capsule (still double the generic price).

After TAC’s campaign started, Pfizer announced a donation of fluconazole for cryptococcal meningitis free for all people with HIV/AIDS who could not afford the drug.

While government and Pfizer were locked in negotiations TAC organised a visit to Thailand where many essential drugs can still be produced as generics.

The aim of this visit was to buy generic fluconazole (a drug that is patented by Pfizer) to improve and prolong the lives of people with HIV/AIDS.

“The Thailand visit exposed the profiteering and patent abuse by Pfizer,” TAC said.

A 200mg dose of fluconazole costs R28,57 in the public sectors and R80,24 in the private sector while the Thai generic, Biozole, costs R1,78 per 200mg capsule.  

A 24-hour Diflucan Helpline on 0800 343 582 has been set up so that health professionals and members of the public can find out precisely which public hospitals are offering the drug.