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 Nosipho,
Please contact the organisation that’s mentioned in this post, they will be able to advise you about this.
Hi I wanna know if I can get my Arvs on the pharmacy though I do not have medical aid? Because on government clinics we have to join the queue from the morning till late and the worst part I am working they don’t want absenteeism. Please help.
Hi Natasha, You can contact the Treatment Action Campaign. They have been working for access to quality healthcare in South Africa since 1998. They might be able to give local support in Pretoria.
where can i buy the arv tabs in pretoria…which pharmacy can i buy them and how much do they cost..which private clinic can i go n get treated near pretoria …im a foreigner need help
Hi Luckson,
Please see the above post.
Hello im HIV positive and im a foreigner in this country I also want to buy because on my appointment date I have to wake up @ 04:00 so that I will be helped @ the gorvenment clinic and now Im on the last warning of going late to work on my appointment date,they will help you around 12:00 to 13:00 pm and at that time I need to be @-work pliz help how much does it cost im willing to pay
Hi Musa,
You could try two ways to get info:
1) From local and/or national HIV organisations that provide treatment and benefit advice. If they are in a large city, there is likely to be a good HIV support group. If not, then national services like Project Inform and GMHC are worth trying first. Most US states have free ARV provision under ADAP, but there are both restricted ARV prescription list and sometimes waiting lists are full. See asap.directory.
2) From local and/or national refugee organisations
Where in USA can one get free arv as a refugee.
Hi Thando,
Info about the cost of meds in South Africa is discussed in the above post. You’ll need to ask your local pharmacy if they sell them. You will however need a prescription from your doctor.
Hi, I live in SA and I am receiving my ARV’s free at my local clinic free of charge but I have to leave home as early as 4:30 AM each appointment date which affects my schedules. I want to know if there is a pharmacy that subsidy or sell at a not too cost rate and if you know, how much do they sell?
Thando.