The Government of Zimbabwe has assured the public that antiretroviral (ARV) medicines will remain available and accessible to all people living with HIV through to the end of 2025. Furthermore, efforts are already underway to secure enough supply to cover the first half of 2026, the Ministry of Health and Child Care has confirmed.
This reassurance comes at a time when global uncertainty over the supply of essential medicines has been mounting. Concerns were heightened earlier this year after a January executive order signed by U.S. President Donald Trump raised fears of potential disruptions to international pharmaceutical supply chains. The order, which prioritizes domestic production of medicines within the United States, threatened to impact the global distribution of several life-saving drugs, including ARVs that are central to HIV treatment programmes in many developing countries.
However, Zimbabwe has taken proactive steps to mitigate any risks of disruption. In a follow-up interview, Health and Child Care Minister Dr. Douglas Mombeshora confirmed that the country had anticipated possible instability in the global ARV supply chain and responded swiftly to avoid stockouts.
“As I have said previously, we began the year with sufficient ARV stocks to last until the end of June,” Dr. Mombeshora said. “Following the announcement of the executive order by the United States, the Government acted quickly by placing new orders through two reliable suppliers to close the anticipated supply gap.”
He went on to explain that deliveries of the new stock began arriving several weeks ago. While not all shipments have been completed yet, the majority are expected to arrive by mid-July.
Health Ministry Confirms ARV Stocks Secure Through Year-End
“The stocks are now in place to cover us up to the end of the year, although not yet fully delivered. We started receiving the medicines about three or four weeks ago, and we’re optimistic that by the end of the first or second week of July, all deliveries will be finalised. We want to assure the nation that we have enough ARVs to carry us through to December 2025,” Dr. Mombeshora said.
He added that planning has already begun for the next procurement phase, which will ensure continued availability of ARVs into the first half of 2026.
“We start our procurement process early — well before stocks run out — so we are already working on securing the supply for January to June 2026,” he added.
Zimbabwe’s preparedness and capacity to weather external shocks such as the U.S. policy shift is largely due to its strong and innovative domestic funding mechanisms for HIV and AIDS programmes.
Key to this success is the country’s AIDS Levy, introduced in 1999, which remains a vital source of domestic financing. The levy, a 3% tax on income, has helped ensure the National AIDS Council (NAC) and the Ministry of Health and Child Care are not entirely dependent on external donors.
The fund is complemented by a more recent revenue stream — the SIN Tax — which taxes sugary drinks and unhealthy foods. This additional source of funding not only promotes healthier lifestyles but also supports the country’s public health systems, including the procurement of ARVs.
These homegrown funding initiatives have made Zimbabwe a model of resilience in the face of fluctuating donor priorities and external supply threats. They have allowed the country to consistently provide treatment to people living with HIV, keeping the national programme on track.
Dr. Mombeshora noted that such financial independence has given the country flexibility and responsiveness in emergency situations like the current global supply chain concerns.
“Our dual financing model through the AIDS Levy and SIN Tax has placed us in a relatively secure position. This is why, when we noticed the possible impact of the U.S. executive order, we could quickly act — not wait for donors — and place immediate orders,” he said.
With nearly 1.3 million people living with HIV in Zimbabwe, the continued availability of ARVs is vital to saving lives and preventing new infections. The Government’s proactive steps, supported by sustainable domestic financing, reaffirm its commitment to fighting the HIV epidemic and achieving global treatment targets.
As Zimbabwe continues to strengthen its public health systems, the Ministry of Health and Child Care has encouraged all citizens living with HIV to adhere to their medication and maintain regular health check-ups, assuring them that the nation is doing everything possible to ensure uninterrupted access to treatment now and in the future.
Source- theZimbabwemail
