Recent comments attack the lack of speed and legislature in place to properly handle the need for HIV/AIDS relief.
"Any health ministry that presides over the spread of an epidemic like this one has much to answer for," says Zwelinzima Vavi, secretary general of the South African Congress of Trade Unions (Cosatu).
The ministry says that the verbal attacks by Vavi are "irresponsible."
Vavi criticizes Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang for his slow progress distributing anti-retovirals.
Six million people people are infected with HIV in South Africa, according to the health department.
The health ministry says in a statement that 61,000 people are being treated with anti-retroviral drugs in public hospitals, not the 10,000 Vavi cites.
