Ministry Of Health Rubbishes Drug Shortage Rumours

The Ministry of Health has dismissed claims of a shortage of anti-retroviral drugs in Zambia, explaining that there is a merely a delay in patients transferring onto newer forms of treatment.

The Ministry’s Permanent Secretary for Technical Services Prof. Lackson Kasonka told reporters that some patients receiving treatment for HIV haven’t yet transitioned off the old drug Zidovudine and are now struggling to access supplies due to a drop in global demand.   

However, he said that 98.5% of patients in Zambia receiving anti-retroviral treatment are receiving the newer, safer and more readily available TLD or TAFED medicines, which are taken as a single pill each day.

The new treatments were introduced to Zambia in 2018 and has contributed towards over 96% of Zambian people living with HIV receiving anti-retroviral treatment. These drugs effectively suppress the virus and allow patients to lead healthy and productive lives.

Prof. Kasonka estimates that around 6,000 people are still taking Zidovudine and will be transferred to TLD or TAFED as soon as possible.

He said the ministry was in consultation with Civil Society Organisations representing people living with HIV, as well as implementation partners, to accelerate the transition process.