ARV Shortage Hits Zimbabwe

ARV shortages have hit Zimbabwe which might affect people living with HIV on the second regimen of the antiretroviral therapy as they might have to change one of their drugs after it was announced that there was a shortage of the drug, The Chronicle reports.

This was revealed in a statement  by the information ministry’s acting permanent secretary Dr Gibson Mhlanga who said:

This circular serve to notify you that we are experiencing a national shortage of Atazanavir/ritonavir due to reduced global production and delayed shipments from suppliers as a result of the global Covid-19 lockdown restrictions.

The ministry and its partners are working tirelessly to address this shortage. In the meantime, the ministry advices that patients on Atazanavir/ritonavir be given up to one month of supplies until the situation improves.

In the same statement, Dr Mhlanga gave a temporary solution to the problem if it persists and it cant be addressed on time and said:

If Atazanavir/ritonavir 300mg/100mg is no longer available, in consultation with the district pharmacy manager, it will be temporarily substituted with DTG 50mg until it is available. Please note the Lopinavir/ritonavir is not a viable substitute for Atazanavir/ritonavir as there are no sufficient quantities in the country to cover the gap

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