Zimbabwe assures steady ARV supply amid US funding cuts

Health and Child Care Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora has moved to dispel growing fears over antiretroviral (ARV) drug shortages, assuring the nation that Zimbabwe has adequate supplies to meet national needs until the end of 2025.

His remarks come amid reports of ARV hoarding and bribery at health institutions, driven by public anxiety following the partial suspension of United States funding to HIV/AIDS programmes in Zimbabwe.

Addressing journalists at a press briefing on Friday, Dr Mombeshora said the country currently has eight months' worth of adult ARV stock and four months' supply of paediatric ARVs. He reaffirmed that there is no risk of stockouts, noting that all treatment regimens remain fully supported.

"The Ministry of Health and Child Care manages medicine supplies using a minimum and maximum inventory control system, where 14 months is the maximum and 8 months is the minimum," he explained.

"For adult first-line ARVs, we have eight months of stock. For paediatric formulations, the Ministry is phasing out older products and introducing a new triple fixed-dose combination (FDC). While the outgoing medicines have four months of stock remaining, new shipments of the improved FDC are expected in July, which will add five more months of supply."

He further stated: "Our antiretroviral therapy (ART) medicine requirements for 2025 are fully funded."

The reassurances come in the wake of patient reports alleging that some healthcare workers are soliciting bribes in exchange for larger ARV allocations, exploiting widespread fear of possible shortages. Some patients are reportedly paying to receive six-month supplies instead of standard shorter allocations.

Dr Mombeshora acknowledged earlier shipment delays caused by a US Government Stop Work Order issued to partner agencies supporting HIV programmes. However, he said swift government intervention ensured continued medication supply.

"Through the National AIDS Council (NAC), we mobilised domestic resources to fill the gap and guarantee uninterrupted access to these life-saving medicines," he said. "This move has protected the significant progress we have made in achieving the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets."

Zimbabwe has made strong strides in its fight against HIV/AIDS, with over 1.2 million people currently living with HIV. The country's continued access to ARVs is vital for maintaining treatment adherence and preventing the development of drug resistance.

Dr Mombeshora urged the public to remain calm and not to engage in panic-buying or corrupt practices, assuring that monitoring systems remain in place to manage medicine distribution effectively.