Re: Drug Resistant Indian NACO strain via ART roll out

[Guest guest]

Dear All

The program to provide free ART requires great commitment. Based on

empirical evidence even the program where international NGOs

supplied free drugs was beset with short supplies and its

consequences. As Dr Joshi rightly pointed out it is a serious

problem because it can cause more harm than good if the program

cannot be sustained at an individual level.

The fact remains that demand will continue to be higher than supply.

Hence on one hand the program requires unrelenting pursuit on the

other hand it demands extreme responsibility from those who deliver.

Thus doctors, medical professional and others responsible for first

hand delivery of the medicines should ensure long term sustainablity

on a case-by-case basis before starting anyone on the drugs. They

should also prioritise on the basis of those who have started the

course being sustained before initiating the next person.

It is also good news that Cipla is now fulfilling some social

responsibility at the National level in its move to supply them

cheaper in India. NACO and the hospitals providing free ART, should

take up the responsibility in a such a way that they should have

alternatives such as directly getting them from the market if need

be in order that ultimately the patient is not victimised.

At the end of the day the success of the free ART program is

entirely based on its sustainability. But I believe it can be done.

All it takes is commitment and responsibility. So good luck to it.

Ruth Kattumuri

London School of Economics

E-mail: <r_katts@...>