AN INNOVATIVE single-dose HIV drug will be available for the first time at government health facilities next month.

Mylan, an American-based pharmaceutical company, will roll out Atroiza to public hospitals in April.

Mylan is one of the pharmaceutical companies that won the R5,9-billion tender in 2012 to distribute the single-dosage drugs for HIV-positive people over a two-year period.

The drug is a combination of three drugs; Tenofovir, Emitricitabine and Efavirenz - and will mean that patients will take one pill a day instead of the current dose of three tablets three times a day.

Mylan CEO Paul Miller said the new treatment will improve patients' lives and make it easier to adhere to treatment "If the patients take their tablets at least 90% of the time, in other terms, not miss more than two or three tablets in a month, they will respond well to therapy. They will live longer as a healthy person."

South Africa has the world's largest HIV-positive population of about 5.6million people.

An estimated 1.7million people are receiving treatment, largely from state health facilities.

Treatment Action Campaign national chairperson Nonkosi Khumalo applauded the new innovation in fighting the disease but questioned the roll-out of the drugs.

"It will ensure that patients are clear on their treatment but the problem is that only people that are starting ARV treatment in April will be given the new pills.

"I want to encourage existing patients to demand the drug from their healthcare centres."

But national health spokesman Joe Maila said physicians would make the call on who would get the drugs first. - sifilel@sowetan.co.za