RISING COST OF ARVS IN ZIMBABWE IMPACTING HEALTHCARE

Zimbabwe's economic crisis, which has seen severe food and fuel shortages and spiralling inflation, is causing dramatic increases in the price of HIV/AIDS drugs, leaving many sufferers unable to afford treatment.

At the beginning of 2005, the monthly cost of ARVs was around ZWD200,000 (US$7.60). This figure has now grown to ZWD1.3mn (US$52). Price hikes in the private health sector have been blamed for the increase, leaving much of the population reliant on public provision. However, the public health service is suffering from a critical shortage of ARVs, as well as other more basic treatments.

Charitable organisations in the country have called for employers to provide drugs for their workers. In neighbouring South Africa, 91% of companies have an AIDS policy in place. However, companies in Zimbabwe are in a difficult position. HIV/AIDS is having a severe impact on revenues due to decreased productivity and absenteeism, yet the worsening economic environment makes firms unable to increase expenditure, and so the situation continues to deteriorate.

The government is attempting to address the issue by spending ZWD30bn (US$1.2mn) on ARV treatments, although this scheme could be thwarted by low stocks of foreign currency needed to import the raw materials required for production. Zimbabwe's best hope lies in the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, which has pledged US$105mn to help combat HIV/AIDS