Johannesburg — The Democratic Alliance on Sunday launched a plan that would see at least 10 percent of HIV-positive South Africans receive antiretroviral treatment.

At present between 0,1 and 0,2 percent -- between 5000 and 10000 people -- got such treatment, said DA Aids spokeswoman Sandy Kalyan at the party's federal congress in Johannesburg.

The five-year plan would see 20000 patients being given antiretroviral drugs in the first year, at a total cost of R202,8-million, and 500000, at a cost of R1,72-billion, in the fifth year.

Kalyan said 10 African countries were already providing some antiretroviral therapy to people living with Aids.

"South Africa, as the wealthiest country in Africa and the one with the most sophisticated health system, has no more excuses.

"In Europe and America Aids has become a manageable condition because of the widespread use of triple combination antiretroviral therapy."

The DA said its plan would not mean diverting costs from other crucial spending areas.

It could be achieved by pursuing cheaper drugs, re-directing parts of the existing Aids budget and by making use of international donor funds.

The 10 percent of HIV-positive people which the DA was targeting, was calculated on the basis that 20 to 25 percent of HIV-infected people worldwide were showing symptoms and required treatment, and that only half of those in South Africa were likely to be immediately reachable by the programme, given the relatively sophisticated health care system requirements.

The DA calculated the average cost of drugs at R800 per patient per month for the first year, declining to R2400 per year for the fifth year.

Monitoring should cost about R400 per month in the first year, falling to R100 in the final year.

Employing 100 counsellors should cost about R3-million in the first year, and the 600 planned for in year five R216-million.

The costs to the state for the first year would amount to R168-million, less than half the additional amount allocated to the provinces for treatment-related programmes for 2002/3.

Besides international donor funds, the cancelling of the third tranche of the arms deal would save about R8-billion at the 1999 exchange rate, which could be used to save lives, the DA said.

The party proposed that patients should make a contribution themselves --ranging from R300 per month in the first year to R50 in the fifth.

"For patients who are unable to pay anything themselves, the DA will set up a fund channelling 40 percent of the money that provincial hospitals will save from reduced hospital visits from patients on the antiretroviral programme.

"The remainder will remain with the hospitals as an incentive to put in place an antiretroviral programme."

The DA also proposed a Central Antiretroviral Treatment Centre with nine provincial branches to oversee and monitor the plan.