Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2004. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
South African Press Association - June 15, 2004
"The problem we have now is some of the cross-border traders who are importing ARVs and selling them to people without a prescription, and this is dangerous," Dr Christine Chakanyuka, Zimbabwe's spokesperson for health, reportedly said.
She said the trade was dangerous, as patients required constant contact with health professionals to ensure the drugs were working and caused no serious side effects.
The drugs were available on prescription in Zimbabwe, but were expensive with the cheapest combination costing about Z$300 000 monthly (about R370).
According to media reports illegal traders were smuggling the drugs from countries including South Africa, Botswana and Namibia, where the drugs were more readily available than Zimbabwe.
Dr Andrew Jamieson, South African Airways Netcare Travel Clinics director, said the trade could be expected in South Africa as most patients who were poor may be tempted to sell the drugs provided by the government.
Jamieson said the trade would result in complexities as the "stop and start" treatment was likely to create resistance to the drug.
"With this in mind, special packaging has been devised in South Africa to minimise on-sale of freely dispensed ARVs," said Jamieson.
He said drugs provided to patients in Uganda were also sold on the black market to drug stores in the country.
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