As a result of the lawsuit, which still is being litigated, the amendment has never been implemented. Without the possibility of reducing costs, the South African government has done little to address the question of treatment over the past three years. In various statements, Mbeki has said the government wants to investigate the causes of the disease before embarking on a treatment program. The government already has banned workers in public clinics from prescribing AZT, a drug proven effective in preventing fetal transmission by pregnant women. Achmat and Love say the government's motivations are economic rather than scientific.
Love says the government's callousness does make sense when placed within a broader context.
In other words, it's very expensive, doesn't cure in all cases, and isn't cost-effective. But South African activists are less charitable. Achmat says the government has little interest in helping poor blacks, who are suffering the most in this epidemic. Drug companies argue that Mbeki's new position instead makes the lawsuit irrelevant. Apart from the fear of alienating foreign investors, some allege the government simply is not interested in saving people who are poor, illiterate, and unskilled.