Manipur facing ART drugs shortage: MNP+
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 26 2022:
The Manipur Network for Positive People (MNP+) has claimed that acute shortage of antiretroviral drugs recommended to control HIV/AIDS infections from progressing has put the lives of people living with the virus at risk.
Meanwhile, official sources have refuted the charges of shortage of antiretroviral drugs (ARV) and claimed that there is adequate stock Nationally for around 95 percent of 'People Living with HIV' (PLHIV) who are on first and second line ARV regimens in the country.
"Individual antiretroviral therapy (ART) centres may have this issue at times, but the medicines are immediately relocated from nearby centres", said a Health Ministry source.
He added that there is adequate stock Nationally for around 95% PLHIV in the country who are on 1st & 2nd line ARV regimens like Tablet TLD (Tenofovir+ Lamivudine+ Dolutegravir) and other ARV regimens.
"There is no reported out of stock of any ARV drugs at the State level and the fresh supply orders for procurement of the next lot of several drugs are already placed", said the source.
Speaking to media persons at Yaiskul Hiruhunba Leikai today, MNP+ Imphal East secretary K Anandi said that the relevant department in Manipur has not been implementing the "ART Free Roll Out" programme since its inception on the occasion of World AIDS Day, 2004 properly.
Saying that there were many instances of shortage of medicines at different ART centres in the past too, Anandi continued that this shortage of life saving medicines has greatly distressed the people living with HIV/AIDS.
Anandi further stated that the authority concerned has been administering the medicine of ART first line regimen to those who need the second line since the past few months due to the shortage of medicines.
Saying that this change in the pattern of administering medicines is against the guidelines of WHO, Anandi urged the State Government to look into the matter so that ART centres could maintain the stock of life saving drugs which are required to treat the people living with HIV/AIDS appropriately.
He further stated that the State Government hasn't given any response for the request made to provide adequate stock of life saving drugs so far.
Continuing that about 14,000 people take antiretroviral drugs under ART Free Roll Out programme in Manipur, Anandi expressed disappointment with the State Government for not taking the lives of thousands of people living with HIV/AIDS seriously.