Access to ARV drugs in India. policy and program issues

[Guest guest]

Dear Forum,

This is to support the call made by activists and professionals in Chennai

for free ARV drugs for HIV positives as reported in Hindu. I agree with all

the points they have made. There should be demand from the community and

professionals for the same. I think it is a litmus test to know the

commitment of the Government to the people in the context of liberalization

policies.

Planning for ARV means preparing the health care system for

judicious and just health care to people. Care of PLWHA and ARV therapy

will be successful only if there is quality care in the system. So it will

improvise the whole system. Trained health care providers, voluntary

workers, laboratory facilities and good monitoring system are necessary for

ARV therapy. At present these requirements are put forward as an excuse for

not providing therapy. Instead, this should be taken as an opportunity to

improve the whole system. Cost is another factor put against therapy. Both

these arguments are disproved by Brazil. African Government also declared

commitment to ARV by increasing the health budget.

But still silence is the answer coming out from our Government. Do we

have a vision on this? Don't we need a national policy on access to treatment?

In the NACO policy the relevance of ARV is stated. But it is also mentioned that

provision of ARV treatment is not possible because of cost factor. The idea is

vague and confusing? (see NACO policy-5.8)

Why cannot we have a realistic and committed approach to this? May be we need

the participation and support from NGO sector and private sector for effective

implementation. Let us open the issues. But there should be commitment, vision,

policy and strategy on this to ensure care to all including the poorest, form

the side of Government. It is high time to break the silence in this regard.

Care of HIV including ARV means care to all illnesses. So people from

other health movements should not shy away from the campaign for access to

medicine for PLWHA. Only people's movement can pressurize the government to

make changes in this context as shown by Brazil. This will also be a point of

resistance against globalization in developing countries.

Dr. Jayasree. A. K.

E-mail: jayasree@...