Availability and access to Fuzeon in India

[Guest guest]

Dear FORUM,

Could someone please let me know about the availability and access to Fuzeon in

India?

My brother, who is on fuzeon right now, needs to be relocated to India because

he is unable to take care of himself anymore in the U.S., after a brain injury

due to a fall recently.

Unfortunately, he cannot be admitted to many of the public services in the U.S.,

primarily since his private disability excludes him from it. However, I am

unable to take care of him 24 hrs. because I work, but I cannot afford the 24

hr. sitter service he requires now.

I think, being in Kolkata, where my mother is, will help him get some affordable

help and comfort. However, the typical line III medicines have led to toxicity

in my brother. Therefore, Fuzeon is the drug he is on right now, with Invarase

and Norvir.

My mother, SAATHI, and I have made most of the other arrangements for my brother

to go to Kolkata. The exorbitant price of Fuzeon is the only snag. I am hoping

there's still a way for my brother to get the comfort of home without the deadly

problem of lack of meds. I am at my wit's end, for this disease has destroyed

not only my brother's life but is threatening, now, to take over my ailing and

widowed mother's life and mine.

If there's any help out there, please contact me

Shompa.

e-mail: <sdatta25@...>

[Guest guest]

Dear FORUM,

I appreciate Mr. Datta's kind concern for his brother; who is on 3rd line ART,

including Fuzeon.

With all respect to the medical community in US, I would like to suggest you to

get your brother reassessed in India. May be he could do better without Fuzeon,

by replacing it with other ART.

Fuzeon is not made in India, but Roche Scientific Co. arranges for its import on

prescription basis and if it is required even after analysis in India, pl.

contact Dr. Girish Telang or Sandeep Dey at Roche in Mumbai Tel. No.

022-24941414. They can organise it.

If you need any assistance in Mumbai, including reassessing his status, pl. let

me know.

Thanks.

Sincerely yours,

Dr. I S Gilada

Consultant in HIV/AIDS

Unison Medicare & Research Centre Pvt. Ltd.

022-23061616

e-mail: ihoaids@...