Via allAfrica.com, a report from The Herald: Zimbabwe: Acute ARV Shortage Hits Zimbabwe. Excerpt:
An acute shortage of anti-retroviral drugs in public health institutions is reportedly forcing patients to switch to drug combinations which compromise their health.
Some hospitals are said to be offering ARVs meant for children to adults.
Mixing different regimens can result in treatment failure because the virus is highly mutagenic and becomes drug resistant.
Selected Government health hospitals offer ARVs to about 400 000 people on treatment.
People Living with HIV and Aids representative on the National Aids Council board, Mr Golden Guni, said: "People are switched from one combination to another depending on which drug is available at that time."
Zimbabwe last year switched to Tenofovier, a new ARV regimen following guidelines released by the World Health Organisations. The regimen is more effective and has fewer side effects.
Government was prescribing Stalanev to all people taking ARVs, but the drug had serious side effects. Some of the side effects included uneven deposition of body fats.
Investigations showed that adults were being given paediatric formulations when drugs are out of stock.
Mr Guni said this forced Government to give people drugs that last for two weeks only. Previously, people were given three-months' supply.
