Cost of AIDS Drugs Skyrockets in Zimbabwe
Posted on: Saturday, 26 November 2005, 09:00 CST
Cost of AIDS drugs skyrockets in Zimbabwe
HARARE, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- The cost of locally manufactured ( generic) life-prolonging anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs) has shot up by more than 100 percent with manufacturers saying the increase was necessitated by the shortage of foreign currency to import raw materials.
Retail Pharmacists Association said on Friday that the recent price increase has affected the first line drug therapy currently used in Zimbabwe.
The World Health Organization recommends first line drugs as the initial therapy for HIV/AIDS positive people.
Urban pharmacies are charging generic drugs between 2.1 million Zimbabwean dollars (about 33 US dollars) and 2.5 million Zimbabwean dollars (about 40 US dollars).
The last drug supplies were distributed last week and were exhausted fast due to high demand.
"ARVs are there in and out, depending on the supplier. When we get these drugs from the supplier, pharmacists put a mark up of 50 percent," said the association.
The association attributed the increases to current shortages of foreign currency to import raw materials needed in manufacturing ARVs.
It added that the shortage had forced the association to operate below normal capacity.
Due to the drug shortages, most people on anti-retroviral therapy have switched from their traditional drugs to other alternatives.
"There is a huge shortage of first line drugs such that we have been forced to switch to alternatives which are very expensive," said prominent AIDS activist Tendayi Westerhof.
Zimbabwe is using Stalanev as the first line drug combination, but most people living with HIV/AIDS have since resorted to using an alternative drug, Trimune.
The Zimbabwean government was blamed for lack of commitment in caring for people living with HIV/ AIDS.
According to the Health Ministry, at least 300,000 people living with HIV/AIDS are in urgent need of ARVs, but cannot access the drugs from public health institutions due to limited supplies.
Source: Xinhua News Agency - CEIS
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