Johannesburg: The Department of Health has reassured South Africans that its plans to achieve more financial independence from external funding sources have been under development for some time. According to South African Government News Agency, this statement comes after media reports suggested that the United States President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) is set to be withdrawn. The department clarified that, while it has not received formal communication from the US Government regarding the reported withdrawal, it has been proactively working on a self-reliance plan to mitigate the impact since an initial freeze on foreign aid and the cancellation of USAID grants in January 2025. The department emphasized that there is no cause for public concern as the transition plan has been developed and its implementation is ongoing. It acknowledged that PEPFAR funding has been a significant contributor to the government's HIV/AIDS response program. However, it assured that the provision of antiretrovira ls (ARVs) remains unaffected since 90% of the ARVs are procured through the government budget, supplemented by 10% from the Global Fund. The department also highlighted that PEPFAR supported the Department of Health in 27 high-burden HIV/AIDS districts out of 52 across the country, excluding the Northern Cape. Despite the potential funding changes, public health facilities continue to be accessible to clients, including those previously served by PEPFAR-funded clinics. The issue of HIV/AIDS response funding will be a topic of discussion at the United Nations High-Level Meeting scheduled for June 22-23, 2026, in New York, where the Minister of Health, Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi, will participate in related debates, the statement concluded.
