Q and A

Question

How much do ARVs cost privately in 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.

210 comments

  1. Lisa Thorley

    Hi Felica,

    i-base are based in the UK, for info regarding access to ARVs in South Africa a good organisation to get in touch with is the following: https://www.tac.org.za/

  2. Felicia

    Hi Ian out of medication I was staying in joburg know I am currently in Newcastle by work. Where can I get it.

  3. Simon Collins

    Hi Simphiwe, i-Base is in the UK. HIV meds have to be prescribed by a doctor. Please contact your doctor in Durban and perhaps an HIV clinic where you are now staying. The Treatment Action Campaign in SA who can also sometimes help:
    https://www.tac.org.za

  4. Simphiwe

    Hi I forgot my medicine in Durban so tell where can I buy it bcs I’m scared of maybe I will be defolt

  5. Simon Collins

    Hi Dudu, HIV drugs need a prescription from your doctor even if you want to buy them privately. Please contact your clinic and doctor to tell them about this problem.

  6. Dudu

    Hi can I buy ARVS in pharmacy my clinic is closed for covid 19

  7. Lisa Thorley

    Hi Bongiwe.

    Please contact the following org who are based in South Africa: https://www.tac.org.za/ They’ll be able to advise you.

  8. Bongiwe

    I need to know if i can take my medication from the chemist with my medical aid clicks or dischem ARVS

  9. Lisa Thorley

    Hi Triph,

    You can’t just buy ARVs. If your friend is positive they need to be seen by a doctor. This is important is they are ill.

  10. Triph

    Hi

    Where can one buy hiv meds in Pretoria?…a friend of mine has been diagnosed with it and she’s stubborn he doesn’t wanna go to public clinics(stigma) and she lost weight so much,so I really don’t know anymore what else supplements can she take to gain weight..any help please???

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