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This paper discusses the issue of equity in the distribution of ARV drugs in the Malawi health system. Malawi is one of the countries most severely affected by HIV/AIDS in southern Africa. It is also one of the poorest countries in the world and it is estimated that every year, about 85 000 Malawians die from AIDS. It is further estimated that since 1985, when the first case was diagnosed, more than 641 000 people have died of AIDS (Office of the President and Cabinet, 2003).
ARV drugs are expensive, however the Malawi government, with assistance from the Global Fund on Tuberculosis, Malaria and HIV/AIDS, started providing free ARV drugs to eligible HIV-infected people in September 2004.The provision of free drugs brought the hope that everyone who was eligible would access them.
Based on data collected through a qualitative research methodology, the study’s findings reveal that:
- achieving equity in provision would face several challenges including policy, operational and socio-economic considerations
- the existing policy framework, shortage of medical personnel, access to information and inadequacy of effective community support groups are some of the key issues affecting equity. |
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