In-depth: The court ruling that gives qualifying pharmacists the green light to provide HIV and TB meds without a script

Posted in: HIV/AIDS, Latest

Specially trained and accredited pharmacists in South Africa will now be allowed to dispense medicines to prevent HIV and TB and to treat uncomplicated HIV without a doctor’s script. This is because the North Gauteng High Court this week ruled against an application by a private doctors’ association attempting to block the initiative. Catherine Tomlinson unpacks the judgment and rounds up some responses.

In-depth: The court ruling that gives qualifying pharmacists the green light to provide HIV and TB meds without a script

Courts to decide whether pharmacists can start HIV medicines without a doctor’s script

Posted in: Healthcare system, HIV/AIDS, Latest

In August 2021, the South African Pharmacy Council published legislation in the Government Gazette to enable pharmacists to prescribe and dispense antiretroviral medicines for the treatment and prevention of HIV. A legal challenge then put the brakes on the initiative and the courts are now set to decide whether it can continue. Catherine Tomlinson reports.