The Namibian government plans to distribute anti-retroviral drugs to people suffering from HIV/Aids later this year. Despite the enormous costs. The drugs will be distributed without costs, according to health minister Dr Libertine Amathila, the local daily newspaper The Namibian, reported. Presently two groups of HIV-infected women receive free drugs to prevent mother to child transmission of the disease. This pilot programme is to be extended on national level. During its last Cabinet meeting in mid-December 2002, Cabinet decided to introduce an Aids levy for taxpayers. This was seen as an indicator by economic analysts that the government intended to distribute free AVR’s. So far the Namibian government spent 331 million N$ on HIV/Aids, apart from costs for the government pension funds. According to latest estimates 230 000 Namibians are suffering from this disease.