Expansion of second line ART

[Guest guest]

Dear All,

NACO has decided to make second line ART available to all those in need of it -

whether they underwent first line treatment in the government sector or private

sector.

In the first phase, universal access to second line treatment would be started

at four Centres of Excellence (JJ Hospital in Mumbai, GHTM Tambaram, MAMC, New

Delhi and STM, Kolkata) with immediate effect.

This will be open to patients from any part of the country. The person in need

of second line treatment will have to register at the nearest ART centre. This

could be a person with suspected treatment failure, or a person already on

second line treatment. The local ART centre will then send the patients details

to the State AIDS Clinical Expert Panel (SACEP) at these four Centres of

Excellence, as per

existing operational guidelines and prior appointment shall be given.

The person shall then report to SACEP where further viral load tests etc. will

be conducted as required, and a decision would be taken on whether there is

genuine treatment failure necessitating second line treatment.

This pilot initiative would be studied over a period of three months, which

would give an indication of the numbers of additional persons seeking second

line treatment, thus enabling capacity addition to proceed in a planned and

phased manner for expansion to

other Centre of Excellence and ART plus centres.

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

[Guest guest]

Dear Moderator,

Re: /message/12368

Coming after the Supreme Court decision (where everyone who needed were to be

given second line treatment) this is a welcome next step.

Unfortunately, this idea of assessment in 4 centres of excellence (COE)is not

really feasible.

Just look at the long time that it would take for a person from

Manipur to access treatment. First they need to register with the ART

centre. Then the details will be sent to the COE. The SACEP at the COE will

inform about the appointment.

The person will travel from Manipur to Kolkata, stay in the city while the tests

are taking place and then wait to hear if they will be given second line

treatment.

Can it really be made any more difficult?

I understand that there is a fear that the system may be misused. But in

reality, looking at all the scams around, if there are a few people misusing it,

it is really being penny wise and pound foolish.

Just make it easily accessible and give some real joy to people affected by HIV.

Regards

Sasi

" Sasi Kumar "

e-mail: <sasiontheweb@...>