Zimbabwe and the growing price of anti-Aids drugs
+550% in three months. That's the amount on the price of a monthly supply of antiretroviral drugs in Zimbabwe.
From Zim $200,000 (US $ 7,70) to Zim $1.2 million (US $46) in most pharmacies.
Nevertheless, David Parirenyatwa, Zimbabwe's Minister of Health and
Child Welfare, told PlusNews that the government's treatment programme
continued selling the drugs at the same price - Zim $50,000 (US $2) -
and would continue to be heavily subsidised by the state, protecting
patients from price fluctuations.
Is it true? By now Zimbabwe, which has the world's forth rate of Hiv
infection, is going through a severe economic crisis: fuel and food
shortage due to recurring droughts and the government land
redistribution programme, which have disrupted agricultural production.
By now, says Lynde
Francis, who runs The Centre, an Hiv/Aids NGO with 4,500 registered
clients, people are forced to interrupt theri treatment, because they
have to choose between feeding and educating children or taking
anti-Hiv drugs.
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matteo mohorovicich
