January 11, 2008

Zimbabwe Suffers Drug Shortages

A study released January reveals that at least 50 percent of Zimbabwe’s medications—including those for HIV, diabetes and other chronic conditions—are out of stock due to a shortage of foreign currency, Independent Online reports (iol.co.za, 1/9).

According to the article, the consumer cost of remaining HIV medications has risen drastically, putting them even further out of reach of the country’s estimated 90,000 people living with the virus. The cost of a one-month supply of the antiretroviral Stalanev 30 is roughly six times that of the average Zimbabwean teacher’s salary.

IOL adds that health officials are working to rectify the drug shortages and have applied for additional foreign currency.

NEW! Scroll down to comment on this story.

Name:	(2-50 characters)
Email:	(will not show)
City:	(optional)

Comment (500 characters left):

(Note: The POZ team review all comments before they are posted. Please do not include either ":" or "@" in your comment.)

| Posting Rules

Previous Comments:

Yolanda, Lupane, 2008-01-16 11:13:45
I think that's supposed to be 900,000, not 90,000 people living with HIV in Zimbabwe.

lovedale, , 2008-01-14 08:49:46
am one of the zimbwean affected ,cant the world help?