'Aids drugs' flood black market

By Angus Shaw, HIV/Aids News (edition of 18 September)
 11/09/2007

Harare - Aids drugs - some of them contaminated, diluted or faked - are being sold at flea markets and hairdressing salons in the face of growing shortages in clinics linked to Zimbabwe's economic crisis, says the health ministry.

State media quoted Minister of Health David Parirenyatwa on Monday appealing to people living with HIV/Aids to buy their medicines from registered pharmacies, clinics and hospitals only.
He was quoted as saying: "These fake drugs increase chances of one becoming resistant to treatment and it becomes even more expensive for that person to remain on treatment."

It was also reported that the "prohibitive" cost of antiretroviral drugs at private pharmacies had fuelled the illegal market.

State radio said that the illegal medications were either adulterated with other substances or useless fakes.

300 000 need treatment

About 50 000 HIV-infected patients were receiving free medication from government hospitals in a nation, where an estimated 3 000 people died a week from Aids-related conditions. It was reported that 300 000 more were in urgent need of treatment.

Since a government edict in June to slash prices of all goods and services by about half, pharmacies said many medicines had been scarce.

The price cuts were ordered in an effort to tame the world's highest official inflation of 7 634%. Independent estimates put real inflation closer to 25 000% and the International Monetary Fund forecasts it reaching 100 000% by the end of the year.

Local manufacturers of HIV/Aids drugs had failed to obtain enough imported raw materials, which must be paid for in scarce hard currency.

The local generic drug costs about Z$5m for a month's supply, far out of the reach of most impoverished Zimbabweans.

HIV patients 'live in constant fear'

A teacher in a top government high school earned about Z$3m a month. Where formal unemployment was 80%, an unskilled general hand earned half that amount.

At the dominant black market exchange rate of 250 000-1, Z$5m worth of medication was the equivalent of $20 compared to $165 at the official exchange rate of 30 000-1.

HIV/Aids support groups said patients receiving antiretroviral treatment lived in constant fear of not being able to find or pay for their monthly medication. Imported drugs cost up to double the local makes.

Interruptions in treatment along with poor nutrition quickly rendered sufferers vulnerable to tuberculosis and other often fatal infections, according to support groups.

Most basic foods had disappeared from the shelves since the government's prices edit on June 26. The corn meal staple, meat, bread, milk, sugar, eggs and even soap and tea fetched ten times the government's fixed price if found on the illegal black market.

Bread shortages worsened on Monday across the country after the two main bakery chains said they were down to their last emergency reserves of flour.