ART- Data Reporting from Private sector

[Guest guest]

Dear Forum Members,

Re: /message/12040

This is in respect of the recent Supreme Court directive for eporting of ART

patients from private sector.

I think the debate in the forum is not going in right direction.

The issue is not that private sector is good or bad. We are all

aware that antiretroviral therapy in India was initiated by the private sector

and we have some very leading private practitioners dedicated to cause of HIV

medicine with good international collaborative projects on treatment and

research.

They have been presenting papers at various International Conferences. But on

the other hand, we still continue to get irrational prescriptions from many

private practitioners and hospitals.

Very recently, I came across a patient who was being treated by a reputed

practitioner from a corporate hospital in Delhi. He had been prescribed a two

drug combination of ziduvodine and lamuvidine (CD4 count of 81).

There have been instances of patients being initiated on one particular regimen

that is changed after few days without any justification. We get prescriptions

of PI monotherapy as initial regimen. There are instances of patients initiated

on Darunavir as initial therapy etc. etc.

At present I have a collection of nearly 50-60 such irrational prescription from

all over country.

The basic issue to ensure rational prescription of ART as per national

guidelines. The present exercise is to collect information on the pattern of

prescription.

The information asked for is only about the numbers of patients on

different regimen patients - initial as well switch regimen. The patients

identity has not been asked for.

One fails to understand why should there be a reluctance on part of certain

practitioners to share this data It should be endeavor of all of us to stream

line the antiretroviral therapy in the country

so as to minimize and delay the resistance as we are well aware that the options

for second line are limited.

The newer drugs are available but are beyond reach of most of our patients and

the threat of patent always looms large.

So I appeal to all private practitioners to cooperate and send the report in the

quarterly reporting format as per directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of

India.

Thanks

Dr B.B.Rewari MD,FRCP, FICP,FIACM,FIMSA

Sr.Physician,Dr RML Hospital & National Programme Officer (ART)

National AIDS Control Organisation,

6th Floor, Chandralok Building, 36, Janpath, New Delhi-110001

Tel; 011-23731954, 43509999(O)Mobile ; 91-9811267610

Fax : 011-23731954,23731746