The [South African] government was mulling the formation of a state-owned pharmaceutical company, African National Congress (ANC) secretary general Gwede Mantashe said at Luthuli House on Tuesday.
Mantashe was addressing reporters at the ruling party's headquarters in Johannesburg following an ANC lekgotla (meeting) on July 17.
"There is a need and this is in line with our Polokwane resolutions. At the moment South Africa consumes 25% of the world's ARVs [antiretrovirals], and it's with this in mind that we are looking at starting a state-owned pharmaceutical company," Mantashe said.
According to research carried out by the ANC into HIV/Aids infection rates, South Africa has 17% of the world's HIV-positive people.
"We had an idea for a state-owned mine company. That company is now running a coal mine and will open another one soon," he said.
Mantashe assured reporters the company would not threaten the pharmaceutical industry.
"There is a need and this is in line with our Polokwane resolutions. This doesn't mean the pharmaceutical industry will close down. The state-owned pharmaceutical company will operate within the industry," he said.
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