13 Mar 2014

The reasons for transferring HIV positive patients for management (consultation, prescribing and dispensing of Anti-retroviral Drugs) from private doctors in October 2005 was to clear the backlog of about 10 000 patients who were waiting to be initiated on treatment as well as to reduce congestion of patients in public health facilities at that time.

This was said by the Assistant Minister of Health, Dr Gloria Somolekae when responding to a question from the MP for Francistown South, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi in Parliament on Wednesday.

Dr Somolekae said the dispensation had been discontinued because the Ministry of Health had since rolled out ARV therapy services to all its 550 clinics as well as the 29 hospitals countrywide.

She said as a result, there was no longer a delay in ARV therapy initiation, facility congestion had been significantly reduced and the backlog had now been addressed. Dr Somolekae stated that public health facilities were able to manage the current number of HIV positive clients hence the decision to take back these clients.

She further explained that the action would not cause overcrowding at government hospitals, and that the extensive ARV clinic roll-out has significantly increased access to HIV services for HIV clients.

Counselling and public education to address adherence to treatment and keeping appointment dates would continue to take place to curb defaulting, she said.

MP Mmolotsi had asked the minister what motivated her to send HIV positive patients to collect ARVs drugs from private doctors and to state the reasons for discontinuing this dispensation; and whether this action would not cause overcrowding at government hospitals and the defaulting by patients. Ends