The COVID-19 pandemic could affect the availability and distribution of antiretroviral drugs used in treating HIV, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) said on Monday.
An analysis by the UN agency shows the potential impacts the COVID-19 pandemic could have in low- and middle-income countries around the world on supplies of the generic antiretroviral medicines used to treat HIV.
The analysis indicates that although 24.5 million people were on antiretroviral therapy at the end of June 2019, millions of people could be at risk of harm—both to themselves and others owing to an increased risk of HIV transmission—if they cannot continue to access their treatment. Government departments in seven other countries that produce generic antiretroviral medicines and that account for most of the production of generic antiretroviral medicines in low- and middle-income countries domestically were also surveyed.The analysis shows that the production of antiretroviral medicines has been affected by several factors.
It also said an array of circumstances are conspiring to add pressure on the overall cost of finished antiretroviral medicines. “Considering that in 2018, there was an HIV financing shortfall of more than US$ 7 billion, the world cannot afford an added burden on investments in the AIDS response,” UNAIDs said.The Executive Director of UNAIDS, Winnie Byanyima, said measures can still be taken to mitigate the risks.
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