"The high availability of the antiretroviral treatment suggests that the country is on its way towards universal access to the treatment," the minister, Aaron Motsoaledi, said when addressing parliament on Wednesday.
South Africa has an estimated 6.4 million people living with HIV/AIDS, one of the countries with highest prevalence in the world.
Motsoaledi said the antiretroviral program has increased the patients' chances of survival, but the logistics of supplying drugs for the 3 million has become a challenge.
"(Medicine) demand may always exceed supply, not because of shortage in the country but due to logistical problems," he said.
According to a national development plan, the generation of under-20s will be largely free of HIV by 2030, the minister said.
By Ruchi Singh
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
