The Executive Director of UNAIDS, Winnie Byanyima, has urged the Ministry of Health to investigate allegations that Ishaka Adventist Hospital staff sold antiretroviral (ARV) drugs to patients, despite these medications being provided free of charge.
On Sunday, a social media user, Flavia Asio, alleged on X (formerly Twitter) that her uncle had been charged Shs70,000 per ARV tablet at the hospital.
She claimed that although staff initially said no ARVs were available, they provided the medication after receiving payment.
“We bought ARVs for my uncle at Shs70,000 a tablet because he was taken to the hospital in very bad condition, and they said there were no ARVs in the hospital. But after picking money, they became available,” Asio posted.
The claim caught Byanyima’s attention, prompting her to call on the Ministry of Health to take immediate action.
“No hospital should sell ARVs. If it’s happening, report it to district authorities or to the UNAIDS office,” Byanyima posted on X.
She condemned what she described as a growing trend of wealthier individuals bribing health workers to secure ARVs, creating artificial shortages that leave vulnerable patients at risk.
“We are not going to allow rich people to bribe health workers and buy up FREE HIV medicines (ARVs) to stock up for themselves, cause unnecessary shortages, and leave poor and vulnerable people to die. No!” Byanyima declared.
She urged Health Minister Dr Jane Ruth Aceng and Permanent Secretary Dr Diana Atwine to intervene, stressing that every life matters.
This is not the first time allegations have surfaced about the sale of ARVs, which are meant to be distributed free of charge in Uganda’s health facilities.
However, Ishaka Adventist Hospital has denied the claims. In a statement dated March 16, 2025, the hospital’s communications officer, Zadock Amanyisa, dismissed Asio’s allegations as false.
“Our attention has been drawn to a tweet in which Bainomugisha Godfrey seeks an explanation following a claim by Asio Flavia, who alleges that her uncle was charged Shs70,000 per ARV tablet at Ishaka Adventist Hospital. These social media allegations are NOT TRUE and should be treated with utmost contempt,” Amanyisa stated.
He emphasised that the hospital does not sell ARVs, as all ART (antiretroviral therapy) services are provided free of charge.
Amanyisa explained that patients receiving HIV treatment do not incur costs unless they require additional care beyond ART services.
“Sometimes, ART care recipients present with opportunistic infections due to low immunity or failure to take their drugs. In such cases, they undergo standard treatment, which may require an affordable payment since we are not a profit-making organisation,” he noted.
He further stated that all payments made at the hospital are officially documented and receipted by identifiable staff members.
Amanyisa challenged anyone claiming to have paid for ARVs to present receipts or any documentation proving the transaction.