Functioning of AIDS Society of India & ASI programs in Mumbai and Chennai from 13-15 Jan.2002

[Guest guest]

Dear Members/ potential Members of ASI and all those interested in ASI,

This is with reference to the AIDS Society of India (ASI) and its functioning.

As I did not get any response from the stake-holders of ASI on my legitimate

concerns and as we some of the members of the Governing Council of ASI are often

caught up in ackwardly defensive position with regard to existance and

functioning of ASI, I thought e Forum is the most appropriate forum

to air the grievances. is a forum where we can debate and improve the

functioning of ASI and to make it a broad-based organisation on the lines of

International AIDS Society to which ASI is affiliated.

This mail also concerns the 'HIV/AIDS Treatment Update-2002' being organised

under the aegis of FXB, ATG and ASI at Le Royal Meridien, a five-star hotel in

Mumbai on 13th January,2002 with a host of speakers including President of

International AIDS Society Dr. Stefano Vella. I was not only surprised but

shocked to learn about this symposium, the invite of which was brought to my

notice by a representative of Cipla Ltd., the sponsors of the symposium.

Firstly, because I had no idea of this program. Though, I happen to be one of

the few members of the Governing Council of ASI and secondly because such an

important program with inputs from the people of Dr. Stefano Vella's calibre,

has been kept a closed-door secret to benefit a select few. Other ASI members I

spoke to had similar grievance.

At no point of time we the ASI members located in Mumbai were consulted on the

possibility of the Symposium. Similarly, ASI's Ad-hoc President Dr.N.M.

informed that there is a SHARE program (a program initiated by the International

AIDS Society for developing countries) in Chennai, again organised by ASI in a

scuttle manner. ASI's ad-hoc Treasurer Dr. D.G.Saple; who is the only ASI person

listed on the invite of the symposium in Mumbai, had no courtesy to call or

write or even e-mail on the happenings of the symposium or that of ASI.

I wonder whom are we trying to benefit or even 'SHARE' the knowledge or Update,

if we can't share the information among just ten of us and therafter among all

the ASI members.How do we lobby with our Government, NACO, international

community, other professional organisations, pharmaceutical companies etc. on

several pertinent issues related to increasing access to HIV Care for people

living with HIV/AIDS in India.

The previous UPDATE organised at another five-star hotel sponsored by

Multi-National Glaxo-Welcome during 2001 was surrepticiously held in the similar

fashion so also other three SHARE programs- at Jaipur,Lucknow and Hyderabad. Rs.

8 lakh sanctioned by Glaxo were reportedly spent totally with no transperency

and accountability. What we saw at Hotel Taj was most people selected randomly

were at the meeting, not mainly for the talks but for Lunch and drinks. My

concerns are, and I hope you all share these with me:

1) Short notice for the program, with no advance planning ends up only getting

crowd (if at all) but not people of substance or involvement in HIV management

2) No visibility for ASI, the host organisation

3) Programs seen as front of Pharma companies - mainly to benefit them than the

medical community

4) Efforts by same individuals to build-up medical practice and/or

self-glorification than building-up the organisation

5) Lack of transperency, Accountability and Vision

6) Not one single meeting of ASI General Body, ASI Governing Council and

proposed ASI national conference has been held in last over two years. Not even

regularisation of ad-hoc Governing Council.

7) Conference organised by ASI President in Chennai had no mention, whatsoever

of ASI on the conference agenda and brochure

8) Intra-country and International Travel by three office-bearers for and on

behalf of ASI, without any whisper to, leave apart any approval of, the ASI -GC

members

9) Hidden agenda; which must be brought to fore

10) Why do we have all the ASI programs in five-star hotels? Moreover the

programs were preceded and followed by vimsically organised five-star lunches

and dinners at the cost of ASI, contrary to what was discussed in the foundation

meeting of ASI --- that the programs should be held in Medical Colleges and with

medical professional organisations and NGOs.

11) Governing Council Members Dr. Atul Patel offered to organise a National AIDS

Conference of ASI in Ahmedabad, Dr. J.K.Maniar offered to organise the same in

Mumbai and I offered to organise one in any of the places among Mumbai, Lucknow,

Jaipur, Hyderabad or Amritsar. However, there has been no response.

As Gandhiji once said about autocratic behaviour of the Britishers, " When the

patience or generosity is considered as weakness, it is the time to act firmly " .

The things are getting out of control at ASI and all our names are

at stake, the ASI business has to be streamlined and the contentious issues be

resolved - sooner, than later, beginning with 13th Jan.2002 program in Mumbai

and 14-15 Jan. program in Chennai.

Please note that all I have written here is in the interest of ASI (as we have

taken lot of pains to establish ASI and to draft its by-laws) and in broader

interest of Management of HIV in India.

Hoping to get suggestions, critic and involvement from the forum-members on

making ASI a truely representative body of HIV caregivers in India.

Sincerely yours,

Dr.I.S.Gilada

E-mail:<ihoaids@...>

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