Re: Free anti-virals for HIV-positive people

[Guest guest]

Dear FORUM,

Patralekha Chatterjee has asked if anyone has information on a recent statement

by India's Union Health Minister about free anti-virals for HIV-positive

children. And if there's been any follow up. Our information is that the Indian

Express carried the following report dated October 5,2003.

Govt promises free drugs to help HIV-positive children live longer

NEW DELHI: The government is embarking on an ambitious project to provide

anti-virals to HIV-positive children below 14 years of age free of cost.This

will enhance their lives and help them fight the virus for a long time.

As the non-availability and high cost of the medicines (Rs 5,000 per month) are

said to be the major gap in the AIDS-control programme in the country, the

Government is touting it as a major step forward.The initiative will be included

in the next phase of the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) programme and

is likely to start in 3 to 6 months time.

It's a huge commitment. Out of the estimated 3.9 to 4.5 million HIV-positive

cases in India,around 2 lakh are believed to be children.And even if half of

them need anti-viral drugs, the annual spending will be Rs600 crore. Though the

total annual budget of the Health Ministry is just Rs 225 crore, it expects Rs

500 crore global funding and another $100 million from the Bill and Melinda

Gates Foundation.

Anti-viral drug is the only way an HIV-positive person can live longer. " But

most die due to non-availability of the drugs and our major concern is the

increasing number of children who contract the illness from their parents. Most

of them are orphans or have both parents affected with the virus, so this group

was given priority, " says Sushma Swaraj, Health and Family Welfare Minister.

Though the Government has no estimates of the budget or the number of people to

be covered, it plans to issue a mass appeal for voluntary registration as a

first step. " If we hold a survey to estimate the number, it might or might not

be conclusive.However, the fact that the medicines would be available for free

will help people declare their HIV status to the concerned authorities, " the

minister says.

According to experts, being HIV-positive doesn't mean that a person is eligible

for the anti-viral drugs. " A person is given the drugs only when the immunity

drops and CD count is below 200, " says a NACO official.The State AIDS control

organisations have been asked to identify hospitals where the registration can

be done.

The Minister is meeting the pharma companies next week to discuss the reduction

of prices for anti-viral drugs in view of the bulk purchase.

End of Indian Express report,

Regards to you all,

Haill,

President,

The Australian AIDS Fund Inc.,

Melbourne,Australia.

E-mail: <bhaill@...>

P.S. We've written to the Health Minister praising her for this vital initiative

and we'd invite others to do the same. Every such initiative needs to be

publicly applauded so that other initiatives may also follow. For those who've

been interested in our Lemons and AIDS project, you might care to visit the

INDIA page of the HIV/AIDS area of our www.aids.net.au for news of the latest

developments

[Guest guest]

Dear Forum,

Greetings. Has there been a follow up/ further developments on the news to

provide free anti-virals for HIV positive persons and also any developments on

insurence policy covering HIV positive persons especially children- both

infected and affected ?

Warm regards,

Arvind Das

E-mail: arvindd2388@...