Antiviral and antiretroviral drug shortages amidst COVID-19: How Africa is struggling

Abstract

Antiviral drugs are of paramount importance in the accomplishment of the vision of zero new cases of COVID-19 globally, through sustainable retaliation against viral diseases. However, several challenges currently exist in Africa which include insufficient infrastructure, deteriorating health systems, and rising costs of healthcare delivery with concomitant rising inequity with regards to access to health services amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic itself has stimulated an increased use of phytotherapy in Africa as a result of essential drug shortages that have been attributed to a plethora of contributing factors such as travel restrictions, reduced per capita income as well as increased expenditure on transport. As a result, the paucity of antiviral along with antiretroviral drugs used to combat COVID-19 as well as several other endemic viral diseases in Africa has created a worrisome state. This article therefore discusses and aims to underscore the causes, effects, and implications of antiviral and antiretroviral shortages amid COVID-19 in Africa.

More Pain, More Gain! The Delivery of COVID-19 Vaccines and the Pharmaceutical Industry’s Role in Widening the Access Gap

“…52,53 As a result, most African countries face the devastating consequences of limited access to COVID-19 vaccines, including the collapse of the healthcare system. 54 These findings raise the alarm about the pharmaceutical companies' behavior and partially explain the crises LMICs face through the COVID-19 pandemic. Accordingly, pharmaceutical companies that own the technologies to produce the currently authorized vaccines have many concerns about the waiver, resulting in their constant lobby to prevent its approval.…”

“… 52 , 53 As a result, most African countries face the devastating consequences of limited access to COVID-19 vaccines, including the collapse of the healthcare system. 54 …”

Barriers toward xenotransplantation in Arab World

“…Other countries such as Iraq and Yemen among middle eastern countries 112–115 are also suffering from medications shortage. African countries are not spared, where medicine, and particularly antivirals have been absent from the market 116–119 …”

Disproportionate distribution of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) antiviral pills: Vaccine inequity replay?

“…In Nigeria alone, 70% of the drugs are imported, but due to global shortage and lockdowns, essential and life-saving drugs, including antiviral and antiretroviral drugs, have become scarce. 10…”

“…In Nigeria alone, 70% of the drugs are imported, but due to global shortage and lockdowns, essential and life-saving drugs, including antiviral and antiretroviral drugs, have become scarce. 10 During this pandemic, we have seen a remarkable pace and progress in terms of COVID-19 vaccination. Lately, 2 pharmaceutical companies, Pfizer and Merck, have announced the development of COVID-19 antiviral pills that significantly decrease hospitalizations.…”