Zimbabwe has been hit by a critical shortage of ARVs -which might affect people living with HIV on the second regimen of the antiretroviral therapy -as they might have to change one of their drugs.

This was revealed in a statement by the information ministry’s acting permanent secretary Dr Gibson Mhlanga who said:

This circular serve to notify you that we are experiencing a national shortage of Atazanavir/ritonavir due to reduced global production and delayed shipments from suppliers as a result of the global Covid-19 lockdown restrictions.

The ministry and its partners are working tirelessly to address this shortage.

In the meantime, the ministry advices that patients on Atazanavir/ritonavir be given up to one month of supplies until the situation improves.

In the same statement, Dr Mhlanga gave a temporary solution to the problem if it persists and it cant be addressed on time and said:

If Atazanavir/ritonavir 300mg/100mg is no longer available, in consultation with the district pharmacy manager, it will be temporarily substituted with DTG 50mg until it is available.

Please note the Lopinavir/ritonavir is not a viable substitute for Atazanavir/ritonavir as there are no sufficient quantities in the country to cover the gap- Chronicle