The World Medical Association, representing eight million physicians around the world, has expressed its deep concern at recent reports that a South African physician has been dismissed for providing health care to his patients in contravention of current Government policy.

This follows a recent case of a doctor who was dismissed after allowing anti-AIDS medicines to be distributed to woman and children who had been raped.

Dr Delon Human, Secretary General of the WMA, said today: "It is clear that the professional independence and integrity of physicians to treat their patients according to the best possible standards is under direct threat.

"We acknowledge that economic concerns should be taken into account, but it is unacceptable that patients are being denied treatment for solely political or economic reasons. I urge those in authority to give physicians a fair chance to provide care and treatment to our patients".