80 % Of Antiretroviral Drugs Do Not Reach Health Centers In Sub-Saharan Africa

About 20 to 25 percent of the local health centers in South Africa were unable to dispense the complete amount of one or more HIV or Tb medication.

An international medical group has found that the lifesaving antiretroviral drugs for HIV-positive patients does not reach the sub-Saharan African countries. `

Despite stocks being available, the drugs often do not reach clinics because of "cumbersome procedures, logistical challenges or lack of resources," Medicins Sans Frontieres said in a report released at the International Conference on AIDS and STI (sexually transmitted infections) in Africa in Harare.

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‘Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is a combination of three or more antiretroviral (ARV) drugs to suppress the HIV virus and stop the progression of HIV disease.’

Nationwide surveys conducted in South Africa showed that between 20 and 25 percent of local health centers were unable to dispense the complete amount of one or more HIV or TB medication.

In 80 percent of the cases, the drugs were available in the country but did not reach the clinics.

"National and international shortages of medicines do get donor and government attention, but the availability of medicine in local health centers is not routinely monitored," said Tinne Gils, MSF's regional pharmacist.

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Similar problems affecting an even larger percentage of clinics were experienced in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Mozamique, MSF surveys found.

"Improving medicine delivery to the last mile will require the commitment of countries and international donors," the report said.

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"Antiretroviral treatment needs to be taken for life, without interruption," said Gilles Van Cutsem, MSF's medical coordinator in South Africa.

"But how can patients be expected to remain adherent to their treatment if their medicines are not available when and where they need them?"

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Source-AFP