Question
How much do ARVs cost privately in South Africa?
1 May 2012. Related: Access to treatment, All topics, Southern Africa.
Answer
Hi
Drug pricing for HIV meds is complex. It varies depending whether a country is rich or poor because global agreements and treatment programmes recognise that richer countries are able to pay more for basic medicine.
It also related to how serious a health problem in terms of numbers of people who are HIV positive in that country. So although South Africa is a rich country, because HIV affects such a large percentage of the population, it can use generic HIV meds, which are also substantially cheaper.
The cost for ARVs in private are on this web page from the Treatment Action Campaign.
Hello Bubu and thanks for getting in touch.
I am very sorry to hear your ARVs are not available any more.
I am not sure which exact ARVs you are getting now or were on before.
It would help if you write the generic name of the medication though to be able to have an opinion.
Newer ARVs have less side effects and are better tolerated.
If this is not your experience though you must highlight this to your doctor and insist to have your weight taken every time you go to clinic.
Please also read this information in link as it explains the symptoms you are mentioning and possible management:
https://i-base.info/guides/side/lipodystrophy
Hi am very heartbroken ,I have been using Arvs since 2016,my journey was smooth until clinic changed my regime to ecrypta eish this one shows me flames
It remove fat from face,gain fat in my belly Nd back and my legs are loosing fat
Am no longer enjoying treatment anymore.the sad part is that I can’t get back to the regime that was kind to me,they say it is phased out.but some patients do get them
I feel like government is gambling with us
I really don’t know what to do. I Went to clinic in Boksburg North and East but Dudula and Action SA members stopped me from entering saying that it’s only allowed people with south African ID
Hello Overt and thanks for getting in touch.
I am very sorry to hear you were unable to get medication.
We don’t have much information, as we are based in the UK, but as far as we know all people should be able to get ARVs in government clinics.
Please contact the head of the clinic to explain what is happening.
You could also email GroundUp in confidence to discuss this as they might be able to help:
info@groundup.org.za
I was taking my ARV at Boksburg north clinic but now they don’t give us because I am a foreigner. Where can I buy?
Hello Esther and thanks for getting in touch.
I am very sorry to hear you were unable to get medication.
We don’t have much information, as we are based in the UK, but as far as we know all people should be able to get ARVs in government clinics.
Please contact the head of the clinic to explain what is happening.
You could also email GroundUp in confidence to discuss this as they might be able to help:
info@groundup.org.za