Double standards for ARV treatment in India

[Guest guest]

Dear Forum members,

Yes, We have to realise the double or triple standards adopted for

Indian patients.

Why the world is interested only in proclaiming India as " AIDS Capital "

and not interested in the care and support of poor patients in Indian

govt. hospitals? One or two hospices for the influential members of the

society is NOT what we need for care and support. We need ART almost

like ATT as is being given now thru' DOTS. When govt. is ensuring ATT

drugs in kind, why is it that it has not done so about antifungals or

even cotrimoxazole for HIV patients? Why is it that there is money for

everything in AIDS Plans, but for the care of these poor patients ?

Even PEP and MTCT control with ARTs sponsored by govt. is still in

policies and papers only.

What are we waiting for ? While everybody including Cipla speaks about

low cost ART, why is it that the drugs are still costly in India ?

If an Indian company can give triple therapy at $ 350 per year,(Less than

$1 a day) what prevents us from saying " You do it here first for our

people " ?

Dr. R.Sajith Kumar

Kerala State PRAM.