Well trained physicians required in HIV/AIDS treatment: Experts

New Delhi, Nov 18 (UNI) The management of HIV/AIDS has improved over the years, but more trained physicians and medical staff are required to manage the large number of cases that report to health care centres, experts today said.

During a two-day conference on ''Best Medical Practices in HIV/AIDS Care,'' here experts said people living with the virus had greatly benefitted in leading a healthy life with the introduction of newer and cheaper antiretroviral (ART) drugs.

However, in India, few clinicians were prescribing ART in government, non-government and private sectors, the experts said.

''Sharing of their experiences to a larger audience would go a long way in bettering HIV/AIDS treatment and care,'' they said as success of ART and clinical care is largely dependant on a good adherence to drugs and good clinical practices.

It also requires a team effort from clinicians, microbiologists, nurses, counsellors technicians and other staff.

Now the giant leap in the discovery of newer antiretroviral therapies has converted an invariably fatal disease to a chronic manageable disease.

Patients suffering from the disease can remain healthy with a good quality of life and enjoy almost full life span if properly treated, they said adding ''There is a tremendous scope for more practitioners to get involved in HIV/AIDS care.'' The conference deliberated on issues like updates on epidemiology, diagnosis of infection and its prevention, clinical management of opportunistic infections and treatment with antiretroviral therapy.

A separate session was also held on issues into the future that included research on vaccines, microbicides and the role of nutrition.

More than 300 delegates participated in the conference supported by the industry especially Cipla the company which produces ART, and organisations like WHO, NACO and UNAIDS.

UNI