continuous supply of ARVs is non-negotiable
Sbongile Nkosi, Co-Executive Director of the Global Network of People living with HIV (GNP Plus) wrote: "The ARV treatment is our one and only lifeline and its continuous supply is non-negotiable as the first tier of our rights to health as a human being and therefore the situation currently faced by our people living with HIV friends in India is unacceptable and undermines people's rights to accessing the care they need."
She added: "It is extremely disappointing to see the lack of effective actions taken by NACO in handling the antiretroviral medicines' shortage crisis, noting the danger of replacing the antiretroviral regimens for thousands of people living with HIV without considering HIV viral suppression, antiretroviral uptake history as well as adequate treatment counselling. These actions have brought additional risks for persons with HIV to achieve successful treatment outcomes and will jeopardize investment from Indian government and donors in saving the lives of people living with HIV in India."
Sbongile Nkosi also warned that "moreover, once antiretroviral medicines' supply resumes fully, there will be chances of people developing drug resistance due to inability to access antiretroviral combination regularly."
Naresh Chandra Yadav, President of National Coalition of People living with HIV in India (NCPI Plus) wrote: "Since last few months, community is witnessing the stockout or shortage of paediatric and few adult antiretroviral medications. The quality of life of people living with HIV and treatment outcomes are only ensured when uninterrupted supply of antiretroviral medicines is ensured."
NCPI Plus leader Naresh Chandra Yadav also offered "We also request NACO to form a committee (which should include people living with HIV) to meet every quarter to oversee and ensure smooth and timely supply of all essential commodities."
L Deepak Singh, President of Manipur Network of Positive People (MNP Plus) wrote to Indian government that the life of people living with HIV who are human beings, "depends on regular dose of antiretroviral medicines taken every 12 or 24 hours on-the-dot without fail. They are being denied their fundamental right to health, and being pushed to the jaws of death by no less than NACO and State AIDS Control Societies which are flouting their own guidelines and rules." Government guidelines recommend dispensing 3-months' supply of medicines every time a person visits an antiretroviral medicine dispensing centre.
L Deepak Singh added: "Some people living with HIV are being handed out just 5-10 days of antiretroviral medicines, forcing them to visit the antiretroviral therapy centres, 3-6 times a month. On the other hand, some or almost majority of the persons living with HIV have had their regimens changed - without following any scientific protocols and without undergoing any prerequisite test like viral load etc - due to the unavailability of certain antiretroviral medicines, which were out of stock."
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