Punjab and Chandigarh: Shortage of Trimoune 40

April 21, 2007

Dear Forum,

As per news items carried by The Tribune three times during a week

Triomune 40 ARV drug administered to people living with HIV, who are

over 60 Kg in weight has been out of stock at ART centers in Punjab

and Chandigarh for the last two months. In north India specially the

problem is grave, considering a large number of PLHAs who are more

than60 Kg in weight.

The shortage has left the patients without any option but to buy the

drugs privately at the cost of approx. Rs.1200 per month. Several

patients being poor, have had to go without this drug over the period

of its shortage as they have been unable to afford the cost of

treatment.

The problem still persists and continues to disturb the view of HIV

experts that ART drug adherence is a must for HIV infected. Non-

adherence to any combination for any reason defeats the purpose of ART

as it increases the patients chances of developing resistance to HIV

virus, which may turn fatal for the patient.

In this particular case the fear of the patient developing resistance

to the virus holds good , with even doctors administering ART drugs

admitting that this shortage has proved very disturbing to the HIV

treatment strategy. How those people who barley meet their travel

expenses to get treatment are expected to spend Rs. 1200 per month on

the medicine. It is entirely NACO's responsibility to supply first

line ART to all ART centers and lapse in such a vital matter is almost

inhuman and may cost some lives.

We are anguished at the state of affairs pervading so far as ARV

treatment is concerned. Irregular supply of drugs may result into

non-adherence among the PLHAs and also affect their resistance to HIV

virus. We will like to appeal to you that some sort of mechanism

should be evolved so that any of these untoward incident may not take

place in future. Also the accountability should be fixed on some one

for causing physical and mental agony to the patients.

Manmohan Sharma

Voluntary Health Association of Punjab,

Chandigarh.

Sarbjit Singh

e-mail: <kiran14206@...>

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