South Africa’s Health Minister ignores condemnation of controversial AIDS doctor

South Africa’s Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang has attracted international criticism and faces possible legal action for failing to stop a controversial German doctor who claims micronutrients can treat AIDS. Matthias Rath promotes the use of multivitamin compounds to reverse AIDS symptoms and claims that his nutritional health programme significantly reduces AIDS-related afflictions. He also denounces the use of antiretrovirals and has launched a propaganda campaign warning against their use, claiming that they are part of an international conspiracy to prolong the AIDS crisis. The health minister has ignored condemnation of Rath by the WHO, UNAIDS and international researchers amongst others. South Africa’s painfully slow progress in dealing with the AIDS crisis is one of the main reasons the WHO missed its 2005 target of 3 million people on antiretrovirals.

Lancet 2005; 366: 1837–8.