The audio is in isiZulu. See English summary below.

MABUTHO: Ngokusho kosekomidini eliphezulu le Southern African HIV Clinicians Society u Dr Des Martin uthi nakuba bengakayitholi imibiko yokuphazamiseka kwezinhlelo zalabo abadla ama ARVs ngenxa yesiteleka sikazwelonke sabasebenzi bakahulumeni esibandakanya nabasebenzi bezempilo, uthi kodwa banokwesabela ukuthi kungase kube khona ukuphazamiseka okwenzakalayo uma ngabe lesisiteleka siqhubeka.  

DR DES MARTIN: I have not personally heard any report, but I am sure it’€™s going to happen very soon if this strike continues. Because patients are going daily to clinics that may well be closed. So I don’€™t think it will be long before we hear these reports coming in.

MABUTHO: Uthi okubenza babe nokukhathazeka kungoba bayazi ukuthi abanye babantu abadla ama ARVs kabanayo imali yokuthi bangaya kodokotela okanye kosokhemisi uma kuba khona ukuphazamiseka ezibhedlela nakuma clinic kahulumeni lapho bewathola khona.

DR DES MARTIN: Although the drug prices are very much reduced compared to what they were, even the small amount of money to some is just beyond their reach. And they’€™re just unable to afford to go to a private pharmacy to have their prescription refilled.

MABUTHO: UDr Martin uthi uma kwenzeka kufika isikhathi abadla ama ARVs bephazamiseka khona ngenxa yesesiteleka esiqhubekayo, kuzodingeka ukuthi labo abanemali baye kodokotela noma emakhemisi asediuzane kanye namabhodlela emithi yabo ukuze bezogcwaliselwa ngamanye. Kodwa uthi labo abangenayo imali yokukwenza lokho bangalinge bazame ukonga amaphilisi abo ngokuthi behlise isibalo esibekiwe samaphilisi okumele bawadle ngoba lokho kungadala ukuthi angabe esakwazi ukusebenza emzimbeni. Uthi kungcono kakhulu ukuthi abantu bavele bayeke ukudla amaphilisi abo uma esephela kunokuthi bazame ukuwonga ngokuwadla kancane.

DR DES MARTIN: If one of the drugs runs out and the patient still has a sufficient number or amount of the other drugs, they may be inclined to say ‘€˜let me just take two drugs’€™. This may also be dangerous because it is not endorsed. We would suggest that if that scenario arises all medication should be stopped.

MABUTHO: UDr Martin uthi uma kwenzeka isimo sigcina siphoqa laba abadla ama ARVs ukuba bame ukuwadla, kubalulekile ukuthi kwenziwe konke okusemandleni ukuqinisekisa ukuthi bayawathola ngokushesha.

English Summary

Clinicians concerned over public servants’€™ strike

The Southern African HIV Clinicians Society says the ongoing public servants’€™ strike might negatively impact those receiving their antiretroviral treatment from public hospitals and clinics.

Dr Des Martin, the former president and member of the Southern African HIV Clinicians Society, told Health-e that although there are no reports yet about people interrupting their treatment, there were concerns that this could happen if the strike is prolonged

‘€œI have not personally heard any report, but I am sure it’€™s going to happen very soon, if this strike continues, because patients are going daily to clinics that may well be closed. So I don’€™t think it will be long before we hear these reports coming in,’€ he said.

Dr Martin went on to say that should the strike continue it’€™s the poor who will bear the brunt because they cannot afford to buy ARVs from the private health care institutions.

‘€œAlthough the drug prices are very much reduced compared to what they were, even the small amount of money, to some is, just beyond their reach. And they ‘€˜re just unable to afford to go to a private pharmacy to have their prescription refilled,’€ said Dr Martin.

He says patients who can afford should go to their nearest doctor or pharmacy with their empty medication bottles and request a repeat prescription. For those who cannot afford to pay, he advised that if one of their triple-therapy combinations runs out, they must stop all drugs.

‘€œIf one of the drugs runs out and the patient still has a sufficient number or amount of the other drugs, they may be inclined to say ‘€˜let me just take two drugs’€™. This may also be dangerous because it is not endorsed. We would suggest that if that scenario arises all medication should be stopped,’€ he said.

Dr Martin advises that patients should go back to their hospitals and clinics to resume treatment as soon as the public service strike ends.