March 12, 2008, 17:00
The Cape High Court has heard that government has failed to protect the constitutional right of safe medication for affected communities and take action against the illegal conduct of vitamin entrepreneur, Matthias Rath.
Council for the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) and the SA Medical Association (Sama) have mentioned numerous occasions when they made representations to government to take action against Rath.
The TAC and Sama have approached the Cape High court, challenging Rath to stop the distribution of unregistered medicines. Rath has been branded a liar that makes statements that suit the moment.
In his argument in the Cape High Court, counsel for the TAC and Sama, Geoff Budlender, put it to the court that Rath misrepresented the truth on three occasions.
Budlender submitted that Rath had made defamatory statements about the TAC, including that they are being funded by pharmaceutical companies and also that they rent a crowd and pay them to attend their events.
TAC wants Rath out of townships
The TAC and Sama have approached the Cape High Court to challenge Rath's selling and distribution of unregistered medicines in the townships. Budlender says some of the patients died while allegedly using his multivitamin products.
He says patients were misled to believe that Rath treats, controls and reverses the progression of HIV symptoms.
Almost every seat was taken up at court 17 while TAC supporters gathered outside the court in support of their leaders who want to see an end to the vitamin entrepreneur and his foundation out of Khayelitsha.
Budlender drew a picture of HIV positive people, who before they died, in affidavits said they were told by representatives of the Rath Foundation, to stop taking ARVs.
The case continues.
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