One of the three drugs used to treat second-line HIV/Aids patients is in short supply in Gauteng‚ the Democratic Alliance said on Monday. The party’s Jack Bloom said the Gauteng health department “admitted that it is not fully stocked with the Aluvia anti-retroviral drug (also known as Lopinavir/Ritonavir)”.“Supplier challenges” are being blamed for the shortage of the drug which is used with AZT and 3TC in second-line treatment‚ and the “department says that the suppliers ‘are being engaged at National level for speedy resolution on this matter’ ”.Bloem said the “shortage of Aluvia is alarming as patients on second-line treatment are more at risk of dying‚ and there is little realistic alternative if resistance is built up because of interrupted treatment”.“The high number of patients on second-line treatment is of concern as compliance is more difficult because of the extra number and size of pills. It is also nearly double the cost of first-line treatment‚ costing R219 a month compared to R116 a month‚” he added.Bloom said that‚ according to Gauteng health MEC Qedani Mahlangu‚ there are currently 27,593 patients receiving second-line ARV treatment.“The main reason for second-line treatment is because patients have built up resistance to first-line treatment‚ which usually occurs if ARVs are not taken consistently‚” said Bloom.“The department needs to ensure full availability of all ARV drugs‚ as well as better compliance so that patients remain on first-line treatment instead of progressing to less-satisfactory and more expensive second-line treatment.”..