India faces shortage of crucial HIV drug
Tenofovir/lamivudine
tablets
may
run
out
of
stock,
said
sources
in
the
National
Aids
Control
Organisation
(NACO),
which
is
the
nodal
government
agency
for
distribution
of
the
medicine.
An
overwhelming
majority
of
the
country's
2.1
million
HIV-affected
depend
on
the
free
supply
of
antiretroviral
drugs
from
the
government
as
they
are
expensive
in
open
market
and
beyond
the
reach
of
most
patients.
The NACO sources, at the same time, said all efforts are being made to address the situation through timely replenishment.
When contacted, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said the stocks will be replenished very soon."There is one drug. We will get adequate supply in some time," he said.
Government procures these drugs from manufacturing firms through tendering process and it is the delay caused in floating of tender that has caused the delay.
Activists have been complaining of drug shortage, saying patients were not being adequate supply of medicines because of their depleting numbers.
India has the third-highest number of people living with HIV in the world with 2.1 million Indians accounting for about four out of 10 people infected with the deadly virus in the Asia-Pacific region, according to a UN report.
The contract for the supply of drugs has been awarded but manufacturing process is expected to take time.
PTI