KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Ministry of Health has advised that no patient on Antiretroviral (ARV) medication, the drug used to treat persons living with HIV, is being affected by the shortage of two types of the drug.

“Of the ARVs supplied through the Ministry of Health, two items are in short supply — Alluvia for which the substitute Atazanavir/Ritonavir is available and Abacavir for which Abacavir/Lamivudine can be adjusted in terms of dosage as a substitute,” the ministry said in a statement this evening.

It further explained that shortage of Alluvia and Abacavir is due to a delay in deliveries and both drugs were scheduled to arrive in the island in June. A shipment of the two drugs is expected within the next 2-3 weeks.

All other ARVs are adequately stocked, the ministry assured, adding that it has procured adequate supplies for the 10,000 patients currently on treatment as well as the projected 2,500 more to start treatment.

On average, 1,200 people are placed on ARVs each year. With the new ‘test n start’ initiative, the Ministry of Health hopes to double that number to 2,400 new patients being placed on treatment each year.

It is estimated that there are 30,000 people living with HIV in Jamaica.