Nonprofit groups in Venezuela claim thousands of HIV-positive people are now going without treatment as a result of an ongoing shortage of antiretroviral (ARV) medications in the country, Fox News Latino reports.

The South American country’s dwindling ARV supplies could affect nearly 50,000 Venezuelans living with virus. Advocates are concerned because HIV-positive people who miss doses for prolonged periods are at higher risk of becoming resistant to the treatment.

President Nicolas Maduro’s socialist government has been criticized for other shortages, including medications for cancer and diabetes, as well as a regular lack of anesthesia and other essential medicines in the country’s hospitals.

For now, many Venezuelans are getting their HIV meds from nonprofit groups abroad, mostly from the United States. However, advocates warn that the donations are already failing to meet the growing demand.

To read the article, click here.