Imphal, August 21: Concerned over shortage of life saving drugs in Manipur, a consultative meeting attended by representatives of NGOs and other civil societies was held at MDU Hall here today.

Convened jointly by MNP +, SASO, Care Foundation, NEIHRN, Lifeline Foundation, Nirvana Foundation, CFAR, Kripa Society and Kripa Foundation, the meeting was held with member of Manipur Human Rights Commission RK Rajendra as chief guest and Advisor of AMUCO Th Iboyaima as president.

After a thorough discussion on the issue of shortage of life saving drugs in Manipur after the drug manufacturing companies stopped supplying the same following threat and monetary demand from an underground organisation, the meeting adopted various resolutions.

These include formation of a Task Force comprising of representatives of NGOs and civil organisations within a week's time to take up the issue with the Govt, submission of a memorandum to the Govt in this regard, putting pressure on the Govt for taking up appropriate measures towards ensuring availability of adequate life saving drugs and other essential medicines within 10 days from today and to approach Manipur Human Rights Commission for conducting a public hearing in connection with shortage of life saving drugs in the State.

Participating in the meeting, MNP+ president L Deepak said people of Manipur should not remain quite over the impending crisis of shortage of life saving drugs as it would affect every section of the society.

People of Manipur should raise their voice demanding adequate supply of life saving drugs.

Dayananda Chingtham of AMUCO maintained that denial of life saving drugs is an aspect of State terrorism, yet the Govt has not taken up any step to resolve the matter.

So the people of Manipur should raise their voice against the Government demanding adequate supply of drugs.

AMUCO would extend full support to the cause.

AMUCO advisor Th Iboyaima said life saving drugs and other essential medicines are required for leading a healthy, long and disease free life.

So the people of Manipur should not accept this denial.

Thoubal Network of Positive People president L Ranjit pointed out that though drugs are being provided free of cost to those people living with HIV who are in the first line of ART medication, there are till many patients in the first line medication who purchase the required drugs from the market.

As for patients in second line medication, they have no other option but to buy the drugs from the market.

Thus, shortage of drugs in the market is a serious cause of concern for all the patients in first line and second line of ART treatment.

A patient who is in second line of treatment testified that he started the treatment in September 2006 and spend around Rs 8,000 every month.

Although the stockist from where he get the drugs ensure regular supply of drugs because of long association, it is a problem for others who just started the second line treatment.

In case of developing drug resistance on account of not maintaining drug adherence by those in the second line treatment, there is no medicine or option to save them, he noted.

Representatives of NIPCO, FREINDS and TIPS, were also present.

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