Sihle Shabalala, the manager at Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) in Mpumalanga, says the shortage of ARVs in the province is distressing.
“Some clients have turned away without medication and others are given seven pills.
The situation is deteriorating,” she says.
“People living with HIV have been advocating for multi-month supplies – three to six months for all stable chronic patients as a practice – which will lead to reduced overcrowding in facilities. But this week patients were given one month’s supply because facilities are forced to save the little they have for other patients.”
Shabalala says so far, they had gathered information on medication shortages from the 28 clinics in the three districts.
“History has repeated itself; this is not the first time this happens. In 2014, something similar happened, especially in Gert Sibande district, where some of the facilities ran out of stock for about two months. This [current situation] reminds me of that,” she says.
“Treatment adherence is regarded as an important factor in achieving optimal outcomes across many diseases. Poor adherence to treatment has the potential to impact outcomes on multiple levels.
“Our concerns are that all the patients who have been turned away and those who are given one-month supply might not come back for their refill. This might lead to an increase in HIV infection rates and high rates of patients defaulting on treatment.
“Also, it means more people will get sick and die of HIV-related illnesses. This will place a greater burden on a health system already crippled by the Covid 19.”
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