RATIONING of anti retroviral drugs (ARVs) in health centres countrywide will continue until Government receives a new consignment expected in about two weeks time.
Government has assured those on the life supporting drugs that there would be no interruption of the drugs as those due to receive would be given a portion while waiting for the next consignment.
Ministry of Health spokesperson Kamoto Mbewe confirmed in an interview yesterday that ART centres that were running low on ARVs were rationing the drugs as they waited for a consignment that would arrive in Zambia within two weeks, while another batch would be in three weeks from now.
“There is enough stock for everyone until we receive more drugs. All we are doing is to give the drugs for two weeks instead of the usual three months to ensure that there is no short supply,” Dr Mbewe said.
He assured the people that had been switched to Atriper from Truvada and Neviripine not to panic as the drug would not have any side effects.
“Experts have given the people their position and they shall be no side effects as the drug was within the guidelines of administering the disease,” he said.
Government is in a process of switching medication for people that have been on Truvada and Neviripine to another drug which is said to work better.
According to a memorandum found at the Clinics from the ministry accessed by Times of Zambia, states that only a minimum number of people should be left on Neviripine because it would ne used as a second line treatment.
Last week, Dr Mbewe said the ministry was expected to receive 91,500 bottles of Truvada in three weeks time and another 400, 000 bottles in September this year with the last consignment of 300, 000 bottles of the same drugs in September.
In Kitwe, a check at Kitwe Central Hospital (KCH) yesterday revealed that the heath facility had been hit with the shortage of ARV drugs.
Public Relations Manager Gray Chishimba said the institution was running low on ARVs.
Mr Chishimba however said he could not specify the type of ARVs which were in short supply but confirmed that a shortage was looming.
“We get the drugs from the ministry of Health in Lusaka and if there is shortage we also get affected.”Mr Chishimba said.
And further checks found that several Health Centres in Kitwe were running on low supply of the ARVs.
In Southern Province acting medical officer Kebby Musokotwane has appealed to patients on ART to remain calm because the province has adequate stocks of the drug.
Dr Musokotwane said in an interview yesterday that stock taking was conducted and they established that all hospitals and health centres that administer ART had full stocks in place.
“When we heard about these shortages in some clinics in Lusaka, we also quickly moved in and carried out a stock taking but we established that we are very safe, we have adequate drugs in stock.
“We however, carry out regular stock taking of not only the ARVs but including other medicines that’s why I think we don’t have problems of shortages of drugs because of constant stock takings,” he said
Yaba, too bad.
You cant ration ARV’s people have to take the full dosage to survive
God has really intervened in this sitution and i believe all sick people will soon be healed in Jesus’s Mighty Name! umulilo wa Sodom na Gomora walishimine, ilyeshi lyakwa Noah lyalikamine naifwe Lesa teti atulekeleshe!
Everything in Zambia today is for rationing including ZESCO. And talking about ZESCO, why has the load-shedding continued and yet we were promised that this would be a thing of the past by the first quarter of 2013? This question is directed to you, whether na you be Oga patapata Cyprian or Cyprus Chitundu or Katundu or whatever. We are tired of this load-shedding. I don’t even see my President’s DEVELOPMENTAL PROJECTS at NEWS TIME!
Stop using money meant for ARVs on by-elections!some of us react badly to these substitute drugs you have started giving us.I want to live to vote PF out in 2016 ALA!
And what happened to that Sondashi formular? this is the reason it should be on the market, hurry up then with the tests or start trials on everyone now before you sentence people to death! How can people die when Sondashi formular is laying somewhere on the shelf? How are you going to feel later in 20years time when you learn that it was the real thing already 20years back? Busy pouring more money on ARVS when you can cut short the costs on Sondashi Formular!
Someone’s pocketed the money. That is all.
Stop misbehaving then you wont need ARVs.Yu marry other people children only to realise that you are sick when it is too late.God will surely punish you.
Can anyone else verify if Lusaka clinic workers are refusing to give out some medicines? I know that government is saying that patients will receive a two-week supply, but I’m hearing that some clinics are turning away patients (probably as they are setting aside some of the medicines for their friends, families and themselves). Has anyone else heard that? I know the Times of Zambia did a check, but I don’t know if they just called the clinics and asked, or if they sent patients to see if they could get their medicines. Answers to this would be much appreciated.
Poor planning by government workers. These inefficient civil servants!