Tanzania Health Ministry confirms steady supply of ARV drugs
What you need to know:
- In a public statement issued on Saturday, February 8, 2024, the ministry assured the public that ARV supplies remain sufficient and readily accessible to all users.
Dodoma. The Tanzanian Ministry of Health has dismissed claims circulating on social media and other platforms about a shortage of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs for managing HIV/AIDS.
In a public statement issued on Saturday, February 8, 2024, the ministry assured the public that ARV supplies remain sufficient and readily accessible to all users.
The ministry described reports suggesting patients being forced to buy ARVs as unfounded and misleading.
It cautioned that such misinformation has caused unnecessary panic, leading some patients to consider stockpiling the drugs, a practice that could undermine their proper use.
The government reiterated its commitment to ensuring the uninterrupted supply of ARVs.
“The public need not worry about the availability of these drugs. The Ministry of Health is continuing to implement robust measures to maintain services as usual,” reads the statement signed by the head of the government’s communications department at the Ministry of Health Roida Andusamile.
The ministry also urged the public to disregard unverified reports and follow prescribed dosages as advised by healthcare professionals.
This is vital in preventing drug resistance and ensuring the ongoing effectiveness of HIV/AIDS treatment, according to the statement.
The statement reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to protecting public health through transparency and timely communication.
Speculation and rumours about the availability of ARV drugs have spread rapidly on social media, following the suspension of hundreds of USAID programs worth billions of dollars in lifesaving aid globally.
This followed US President Donald Trump’s January 20, 2025, order to freeze most foreign aid, citing the need to align it with his "America First" policy.
The government has repeatedly reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that any gaps created by the decision are not felt, pledging to implement alternative measures to prevent any disruption to services or operations, including the supply of ARV drugs.
