Question
How much do ARVs cost privately in South Africa?
1 May 2012. Related: Access to treatment, All topics, South 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.
Hi
Because yo are based in South Africa, please ask this questions at your clinic.
i-Base is in the UK so it is difficult to know about options in other countries.
I stop to take the drug’s because I moved to another province I ask my sister to go and ask for a transfer for me at the clinic but the nurse refused said they want me. so what would like to know is that I can buy It from the doctor?
Hi,
HIV i-Base is a charity that is based in the UK. I’m sorry that i don’t have specific information on how to access ARVs in other countries.
If you are in South Africa the ‘Treatment Action Campaign’ may be able to help. You can find their details here:
http://www.tac.org.za/community/contact
I move provinces for work, I want to now where can I buy ARVs.
Hi,
I am afraid i do not have information on specific chemists and whether they sell ARVs. In the UK often people are given a longer supply of meds, sometimes up to 6 moths so they do not have to go to the clinic so often. This may be possible for your sister.
My sister moved because of work, the place tht she moved to doesn’t have a public clinic or hospital where she can get her medication. Can the chemist sell her ARV’s?
Hi
Several studies have suggested that life expectancy for HIV positive and HIV negative people is now very close. Depending on when you are diagnosed and when you start treatment, this commonly includes a good chance of living for decades.
To have the best chance for this to happen, you need to be very careful in not missing doses and in taking treatment at roughly the same time each day.
Different hospitals in different countries decide on how much treatment to give in one prescription. Monthly is pretty common in lots of countries but in the UK every 3-4 months is more normal. Some people only see their doctor every six months though if their health is stable.
There are no medical advantages from storing meds for a lot longer. This will take up space at your home and the storage conditions may mean it is actually better to get them more frequently from your clinic when the temperature may be more controlled.
how long does one survive being hiv positive? Is there a probability that one can not be affected by aids if she\he is hiv positive?
if treatment is taken on daily basis at the right time, can one expect to live for decades of years with hiv?
Can one buy or gets arv’s in bulk? ie can u get pills for the whole year or is it better on a monthly basis?
Your sister should talk to her doctor about restarting treatment, and the reasons she stopped previously. Not all treatments need to be taken with food so there may be an option that is better for her. She will need to be monitored after starting treatment to make sure that it is working well and that she doesn’t have problems with resistance.
My sister defoulted the ARV teatment when CD4 was 61. Her prblem she had no food to take her teatment regularly. Now she want to take the teatment again. What steps must she follow ?