Delayed Antiretroviral Drugs Cleared From Port
The Ministry of Health has announced the clearance of antiretroviral drugs that were left sitting at the port due to financial challenges in their clearance.
The Ministry says they were cleared on Friday, October 13, 2023.
“The Ministry of Health is pleased to inform the general public that the antiretroviral medications which delayed at Tema port was cleared on Friday, October 13, 2023, as was assured by the Ministry in relation to the rejoinder published on Saturday, October 7, 2023 on the aforementioned subject matter,” it said in a press statement.
According to the statement, the distribution of the medications to designated points is in motion.
Meanwhile, it said it is working with the Ghana Supply Commission to ensure “seamless clearance” of such drugs and related ones in future.
Background
The shortage of HIV antiretroviral drugs in Ghana had been widely reported, with the Ministry’s delay in issuing tax waivers cited as the cause.
However, the Ministry released a statement refuting these claims as “misleading.”
It explained that the Ghana Supply Commission managed the clearance of antiretroviral drugs on time, but the unexpectedly high volume of the consignment required additional resources causing the delay and shortage.
It further indicated that only four percent of persons living with HIV/AIDS in Ghana relied on these specific medications while the remaining 96% were well supplied.
