Windhoek
The Ministry of Health and Social Services says its health facilities are fully stocked with antiretroviral medicines.
In response to a New Era article on Friday, ministerial spokesperson Ester Paulus said the ARV medicines for all its patients at Katutura hospital and Robert Mugabe clinic are in adequate stock.
New Era learnt through patients who collect ARVs at the clinic that the drugs were allegedly in short supply and some patients apparently had to be turned away without medication.
Others only got medicines for one month instead of the usual three months due to the shortage, they said.
A patient who spoke to New Era anonymously said she went to the Robert Mugabe clinic on Tuesday but was allegedly told at the ARV clinic’s pharmacy that she could only get medicines for one month and not three months as prescribed by the doctor, because of the alleged shortage.
“I got my medicines but my friend with whom I normally get the medicines together did not get hers because there was apparently no medicine,” she said.
“They also called Katutura hospital to ask if they could assist but she [friend] apparently did not get, as they also did not have. I don’t know if the situation has improved now since I did not talk to my friend again but that was the situation and she had to rely on natural herbs in the meantime,” said the woman who has been living with the virus for the past 10 years.
In response to the article Paulus explained that on Tuesday, March 29 the pharmacist at Robert Mugabe clinic had asked a few patients that came after lunch to come back the following day, or go to Katutura hospital or any other clinic to collect their medication because of an ARV dispensing outreach programme that was taking place in Windhoek Rural Constituency.
“The ministry informs the public that it is the common practice for patients that have been on treatment for more than two years and have been adhering to treatment procedures, to be provided with a one-month ARV prescription,” said Paulus in a statement issued to the media.
She further explained that a three-month ARV prescription is only provided when there is a surplus of medicines at the Central Medical Store to reduce the number of visits to health facilities, although this prescription is given in rare circumstances because patients should be closely monitored to avoid defaulting on their medicines.
“The ministry is currently experiencing problems with local suppliers on tender unable to provide certain medicines, which they have tendered for, due to the economic exchange rates,” she added.
She also said the ministry is in contact with international suppliers, manufacturers and the tender board to ensure that there is a constant and adequate supply of the required pharmaceuticals for all public health facilities.