‘Governments not committed to AIDS treatment’

When contacted Sharma told The Indian Express that a financing gap of $67 million remains for the implementation of the National AIDS Control Programme 2007 – 2012. Access to second-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) is severely limited,because of the strict eligibility criteria implemented for the government programme and the high cost in the private sector. Important medicines for treatment of opportunistic infections (OIs) and TB are not always readily available for the prescribed duration at all facilities.

Prevention of vertical transmission programmes in India continue to use a less effective antiretroviral prophylaxis,not in line with the latest WHO guidelines,said Manoj Pardeshi,coordinator of the India branch of the ITPC. Pardeshi who is based in Pune said that on the one hand there was dwindling support from donors and at the same time an increasing need for access to second line ARVs.

Pardeshi has also sent a letter to the National Aids Control Organisation (NACO) authorities following a consultation meeting held recently on access to second line ART . “We need second line ART centers in every state and more than 10,000 People living with HIV should be registered,” he said.

Vikas Ahuja of the Delhi Network of Positive People (DNP+) pointed out that NACO continues to impose strict eligibility rules and provides free second line ARVs through government centres only to individuals living below the poverty line,widows and children. Other patients,meanwhile,are only eligible if they have been receiving first-line ART through a government centre for at least two years,Ahuja said adding that they have written to the NACO about the issue.

More than three years ago,People living with HIV networks in India began campaigning for the need for a second-line ART rollout at government centres.

In 2008,second-line ART was piloted at two government ART centres,and is now available free of charge at only 10 centres. Of the 3,000 in need of second-line ART,only about 750 were receiving it as of December 2009.