CHRONIC patients are defaulting on essential medication as
most pharmacies are demanding payment in foreign currency while those paying in
local currency are made to pay more than even the prevailing black market rate.
The most common chronic illnesses in Zimbabwe are
hypertension, diabetes, cancer, arthritis and asthma.
People with chronic illnesses are supposed to regularly
take certain medication for a life time to reduce their risk of succumbing to
the diseases.
The situation has resulted in many Zimbabweans defaulting
while some reduce their doses, without the doctors’ consent, in a bid to
stretch their supplies for longer.
Some patients have resorted to sourcing medication from
Botswana and South African pharmacies, which are significantly cheaper.
However, following the closure of borders due to the
Covid-19 pandemic, patients have been pushed into desperation as options in
seeking healthcare and purchasing drugs are now limited.
What has worsened the situation for the sick is that many
pharmacies are either declining medical aid or shortfalls are charged
exorbitantly in foreign currency.
In a survey, a Chronicle news crew established that general
practitioners charge between US$10 and US$20 for consultation while specialists
charge up to US$50.
Most patients cannot afford the charges that often come
with an up to 50 percent shortfall if they are on medical aid but they need the
consultations to get prescriptions or change a drug regimen.
They suffer a double blow if they fall sick due to
defaulting because local hospitals which have since limited access to
emergencies due to Covid-19 charge from $400 for admission per night.
Mpilo Central Hospital charges $160 per night and over $1
000 for its private ward which is temporarily closed.
The United Bulawayo Hospitals charges $800 per night and $4
000 for the private ward.
For the privately run Mater-Dei Hospital, admission charges
per night are $2 715 in the general ward and $6 250 for the private ward.
Our news crew also discovered that pharmacies have
different pricing for the medication in local currency which changes daily,
though their pricing in USD is almost constant.
An elderly person on diabetes, hypertension and arthritis
medication which is a common combination for the elderly, has to part with an
average of US$30 per month or $1 650 as at yesterday’s pharmacy rates which
ranged between 1:60 and 1:70.
The official rate is 1:25.
A medical doctor who preferred anonymity for professional
reasons said defaulting on chronic medication was risky.
“It’s very bad and it’s dangerous. Someone who has been on
hypertension medication for years should not abruptly stop taking medication.
They can suffer a stroke or heart attack should their blood pressure shoot up.
This can be fatal.
“Someone who is diabetic must not fall short of insulin.
Blood sugar levels may go very high or may get very low and appropriate
medication is required to regulate the levels of sugar in the blood. It happens
that people default, it is a very unfortunate situation but a very dangerous
one. It may cause sudden death or create resistance to medication, which may
result in the patient needing stronger and more expensive drugs,” said the
doctor.
One of the affected is a nurse from a local clinic who
preferred anonymity but confirmed that she has defaulted her hypertension
medication due to pricing.
“I work at a clinic and due to resource challenges, I
struggle to buy my hypertension medication which has forced me to default a
number of times. I often suffer from severe headaches and develop eye problems
and of course I am at higher risk of having heart attack if I default on
treatment,” she said.
“We get paid in the local currency and we cannot afford to
buy tablets in forex as most pharmacies incentivise those with US dollars.”
For Mrs Amanda Khumalo from Paddonhurst suburb, the burden
is quadrupled as four of her relatives need medication for hypertension,
arthritis, diabetes and asthma. “This is a monthly headache and I have since
realised I cannot just walk in and buy medication without first comparing at
least six pharmacies. My parents, mother-law, and grandmother are all on
hypertension medication which means costs are multiplied by four,” she said.
“Both my mother and grandmother are diabetic which means
more medication monthly. I have since discovered that there is a cheaper
pharmacy in Cowdray Park suburb but the distance and cost of fuel makes it
difficult.”
Mrs Khumalo from Paddonhurst suburb wishes there was a way
chronic patients could access medication from a Government run pharmacy where
they will “not suffer for having local currency”.
Miles away from Bulawayo are many chronic patients who have
to travel to the city to purchase the medication.
A pharmacy client who identified himself as Mr Yedwa
Khumalo (74) from Gwanda said he was having a tough time as a result of the
lockdown as he could no longer buy some of his drugs in South Africa and
Botswana due to the closure of borders. Mr Khumalo said
buying medication outside the country was cheaper compared to the prices of his
chronic medication in Zimbabwean pharmacies. Chronicle
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