Looming shortage of HIV, malaria, TB drugs as medications remain confined at Tema Port

Health authorities have expressed worry over a looming shortage of drugs for the treatment of AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria.

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria is an international financing and partnership organisation that aims to attract, leverage, and invest additional resources to end the epidemics of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria to support attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals established by the United Nations.

A board member of the fund revealed in an interview that a bulk of the drugs have been confined at the Tema Port since October 2023, awaiting clearance from the government.

The drugs, he says, are expiring while under lock and key at a time when patients are in dire need of the medications.

“The Global Fund has supported Ghana, and they (medications) are still there at the ports. About 300 commodities for TB, HIV, and malaria [are locked at the ports] because there is no money to clear them,” one of the board members noted in an interview monitored by The Ghana Report on Joy News.

Meanwhile, the Health Ministry is expected to meet with the fund over the situation.