NGO's call for urgent action on Aids drug shortages in the Eastern Cape

01 Feb 2016 | Admin Author

Several health sector NGO's have called for urgent action to be taken to address what they say is the scourge of the widespread shortage of Aids medication in the Eastern Cape.

The joint call on Tuesday came from the Rural Health Advocacy Project, Doctors Without Borders, Treatment Action Campaign and Section 27 in a report that will be discussed sixth SA Aids Conference in Durban from Wednesday.

According to a synopsis of the report, thousands of people living with HIV and TB still risk death and drug resistance in the Eastern Cape due to the ongoing interruptions to the supply of life-saving medication.

They say 40% percent of the 70 facilities surveyed in May this year in the Mthatha catchment area had experienced a lack of stock of HIV and TB drugs.

"This situation is catastrophic. It means many thousands of people living with HIV have risked treatment interruption for months now. The stock-outs consequently undermine clinical benefits of life-saving ARV treatment. Over time, more deaths will occur as a result and the likelihood of increased drug resistance is significant,"says Dr Amir Shroufi, Deputy Medical Coordinator for MSF in South Africa.

"In January 2013, the coalition released its first report "Emergency Intervention at Mthatha Depot: The Hidden Cost of Inaction" analysing the impact of a management and drug supply crisis at the Mthatha depot. It was estimated that thousands of people were forced to interrupt their HIV treatment, potentially leading to tens of excess deaths over the course of the year. Despite the report’s clear recommendations to health authorities on solving the problem, five months later, the situation remains dire."

"It seems very little was learnt from our report in January to the Eastern Cape health authorities. It is unacceptable that there has been little or no change. We demand that Eastern Cape MEC for health, Sicelo Gqobana, take leadership to end these stock-outs," says Vuyiseka Dubula, TAC General Secretary.

The coalition has now called for urgent intervention from the National Health Department.

But, the Eastern Cape Health Department has hit back saying that the "presentation by MSF (Doctors Without Borders) is unfortunate and in fact it is a mischievous attempt to mislead the world," said Department spokesperson, Sizwe Kupelo.

"They presented the world with the history. The situation has since changed and even at the time that got involved it was result of a wild-cat strike. We have since appointed a director, four pharmacists, 15 officials and currently our stock levels are sitting at 98% ARV availability and 72% chronic medication," Kupelo said.