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 Zandile,
i-base are a UK based organisation. However, if you could tell me where you live I may be able to help you.
I need to know if I can buy ARVs in the chemist because it hard to go to the clinic.
Hi Dimpho,
How to tell a partner is something that we get asked quit often. Unfortunately, there’s no easy way to answer this.
However, what might help is to talk to him about HIV. This will help you to understand what his views are. In many cases, its simple a case of just taking the risk and hoping that they understand.
As frustrating as this may be, it is something that many people who are positive go through. This is because of the unfounded stigma that is associated with HIV. What may also help is being up to date with HIV research.
For example, you’ve asked how you can have a child without him contracting HIV. If you’re on treatment and have an undetectable viral load then the risks of transmitting HIV are close to zero. Please see the results of the PARTNER study for more info:
http://i-base.info/qa-on-the-partner-study/
This meaning that you being positive shouldn’t be a barrier to having children. It also means that you can conceive the natural way.
Because you’re living with this secret, you may actaully find it liberating if you decide to tell him. However, only you know him.
Good luck with what you decide.
Hi I’ve been living with HIV for more than 14 years. I’d decided not to fall in love again but now, I have found love. We use condoms. I know he’s HIV negative and I really want him to stay that way. Now he wants a baby. The thing is, I’ve never told him about my HIV status. I’m afraid that if I tell him, that will destroy our relationship. We’re madly in love. How do I tell him? I would also like to know what I can do to fall pregnant without infecting him?
Hi Nomsa,
Where do you live? What meds have you been taking? Have they said when they’ll get more meds?
If you’ve been taking Atripla, or a generic version, their is some research that states that its ok to take meds for 5 out of 7 days. Please see:
http://i-base.info/htb/30601
I am hiv positive it’s been two days now I don’t have arvs, because they are finish at our clinic how can I do. I don’t have money to buy some and I don’t know where I can buy them
Hi Thabo, I don’t know the price of ARVs in SA becauce most people get meds free on a government programme. Depending on which med you use it might be $100-$150 US dollars for a year, ie about US$ 12 a month. This is just a guess though. You should be able to ask a pharmacist how much this would cost privately. Also, there is a large variation in CD4 counts. During early infection, the CD4 count drops but then often increases again over the next few months, even without treatment. A CD4 count less than 350 at any time is a good reason to start treatment.
Hi Simon I tested positive only a month ago and before this all my tests were negative which means i got infected recently. But why is my Cd4 count already 315? Also, what is the cost of ARVs that I can buy privately monthly? I find that the government clinic has too many procedures and places people in their own queue where other patients can speculate that the queue is either for std or HIV and i think most people fail to go to clinics due to this procedures and practices.
Hi Constant,
You’ll need to ask your clinic about this. You will also need a prescription.
I’m HIV positive and I would like to know the route to access ARVs from the chemist than go to a clinic every month. I ask this because I don’t get off from work.