Patients with lupus, an autoimmune inflammatory disease, complain about the lack of a medication used in the treatment. The stock of hydroxychloroquine ran out in March and has not yet been replenished in Mato Grosso do Sul. The supply is provided by the SUS and the purchase is made by the state.
Lupus is an autoimmune inflammatory disease – that is, a condition in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the body itself. It can affect different organs and tissues, from the skin, through the joints, to the brain and kidneys, for example. In severe cases, it can lead to death. There is no cure, but there is treatment.
Elaine Sandin discovered that she had lupus in 2019. The housewife uses hydroxychloroquine to control lupus, but could not find the medicine at Casa da Saúde. Via message, she received information that the stock had run out and there was no forecast of availability.
“The answer I got was that it was out of stock, they had no plans for replacement or delivery. And then we ended up like that, but as I already had a little stock of it, it didn’t affect me too much in March. But it’s only been three months, so there’s that worry about whether I’m going to run out or not. Other people I know are already buying this medicine. It’s not such a cheap, accessible medication and that’s why there’s this concern. How many more months?”
Elaine Sandin
The State Department of Health confirmed that 400 milligram hydroxychloroquine is in short supply. The medicine, according to SES, was sold out in March, but a new stock was purchased and should now be available in the first half of May. In total, 498 people use the medicine in Mato Grosso do Sul through the Unified Health System.
The temporary shortage would have occurred due to the supplier’s delay in delivering the purchase made by the state. Rheumatologist Veruska Atalla explains the importance of hydroxychloroquine in the treatment of lupus.
“It is a very important medicine for controlling symptoms, controlling the disease, controlling the activity of this chronic, autoimmune disease, lupus, especially controlling joint symptoms and skin symptoms.
Rheumatologist Veruska Atalla
The doctor also points out that, in some cases, health can be compromised after a short period of time without the medicine.
“The medicine begins to act on the immune system, begins to control this disease activity after a few weeks of continuous use, generally 3 to 4 weeks. So indeed, the lack of it can have an impact on the evolution, even on the control of this chronic autoimmune disease.”
Those who depend on this medication to control the disease hope it arrives soon.
“Our health is no joke. Today, sometimes people look, but she’s fine. Sometimes they look at other people who have the same disease and say she’s fine, but the disease doesn’t have a face and if we’re fine it’s because we depend on this medicine. Without it, the disease can take effect and bring other consequences to us.
