Union Health Ministry falters on NHRC deadline; given reminder to respond on the shortage of life saving drugs for HIV patients (31.10.2014)
PRESS RELEASE
New Delhi, 31st October, 2014
In the matter of shortage of life saving medicines for HIV patients, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has not been able to give reply to the National Human Rights Commission even after the expiry of two weeks' deadline, which was communicated to it on the 16th September, 2014. The Commission, vide a reminder on the 28th October, 2014 has now given four weeks time to the Ministry, through its Secretary, to submit the report.
It was reported in the media on the 26th August, 2014 that the treatment and control of HIV, including dispensing drugs and testing was handled by the government run public health programme through 355 odd centres. However, due to severe stock-outs of life saving medicines at these centres, treatment of HIV patients across India had taken a hit. The worst affected centres were in Delhi, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka and Manipur. Out of these, Government owned centres in Delhi and Mumbai cities were hit the most.
According to the media report, Delhi Network of Positive People (DNP+), an NGO representing HIV patients, had sought emergency procurement and relocation of stocks to the government owned centres experiencing stock-outs of ARVS. It had also sought strengthening and streamlining drug forecasting, procurement and supply chain mechanism to prevent future shortages.
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New Delhi, 31st October, 2014
In the matter of shortage of life saving medicines for HIV patients, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has not been able to give reply to the National Human Rights Commission even after the expiry of two weeks' deadline, which was communicated to it on the 16th September, 2014. The Commission, vide a reminder on the 28th October, 2014 has now given four weeks time to the Ministry, through its Secretary, to submit the report.
It was reported in the media on the 26th August, 2014 that the treatment and control of HIV, including dispensing drugs and testing was handled by the government run public health programme through 355 odd centres. However, due to severe stock-outs of life saving medicines at these centres, treatment of HIV patients across India had taken a hit. The worst affected centres were in Delhi, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka and Manipur. Out of these, Government owned centres in Delhi and Mumbai cities were hit the most.
According to the media report, Delhi Network of Positive People (DNP+), an NGO representing HIV patients, had sought emergency procurement and relocation of stocks to the government owned centres experiencing stock-outs of ARVS. It had also sought strengthening and streamlining drug forecasting, procurement and supply chain mechanism to prevent future shortages.
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