[india-drug] Response to use of anti retroviral drugs in India

[Raj Vaidya <pharmhin@sancharnet.in>]

Dear Idruggers,

         Working with NGOs in HIV?AIDS, and with individuals having 
HIV?AIDS, the biggest problem faced by them is "Access to health Care".

Anti-retrovirals are good, but this is a far cry from reality. In 
reality, what HIV patients need is "some" doctor to even look at them ,
listen to them, when they need them. While affordability of
anti-retrovirals is a big issue, treating of Opportunistic infections
and related problems is even a bigger issue. The cost of treatment of
opportunistic infections and other ailments will be considerably lower
than antiretrovirals.

         It is important for the Government, and those concerned to 
first stress that the HIV patients get proper attention even to treat
their simple ailments. Once that confidence is established, then the
patients would feel more open to approach the Government for
antiretrovirals. 

Only making the announcement, allocating budget, purchasing the 
antiretrovirals would not suffice. When our Public health systems are
so inefficient, the doubt arises, whether the money allocated would be
rightly used to full justice ???????? Let us give attention and care
for the patient first, treat his simple ailments, once we are capable
of doing that,  then let us talk of bigger and costlier things.
         
No intentions to hurt anyone's feeling, I was just talking 
through the shoes of a HIV infected person !!!!!


Raj Vaidya

Community Pharmacist
Goa, India

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Access Essential Drugs Monitor #32 at http://www.who.int/medicines/mon/mon32.shtml

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