The fight against HIV and Aids is a key priority for the Department of Health and the target for new entrants to the treatment intake is expected to be more than 300 000 a year and more than 900 000 people are expected to receive antiretroviral treatment by 2011/12 financial year. Additional funds were made available over the medium-term period for expansion of the treatment programme to accommodate a higher number of people on antiretroviral treatment. On the target of 900 000 people who are expected to receive treatment by 2011/12, the HSRC argued that this target would be reached earlier. This conclusion was based on a study it conducted which showed that 800 000 people with HIV/AIDS are already on ARV treatment.