BULAWAYO - The cost of anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs) here has more than doubled at private pharmacies, it has been discovered.Although the drugs are distributed free of charge in government, mission and council hospitals, some people still choose to purchase the drugs from private pharmacies.
The cheapest ARV drugs range between US$20 and US$40 depending on the chemist. The drug takers said the cost was sometimes as much as US$80 as some of the drugs are taken together with other ARV stimulants.
I am forced to access the drugs from the private pharmacies because at times it is difficult to get the drugs from the public sector. Currently my wife and I spend over US$200 per month to purchase the ARVs we take. If the government cannot negotiate with private pharmacies to make the drugs affordable they should at least subsidise the cost, said Everson Ncube.
Post published in: News