5 centres get 3rd line HIV medicines free

MUMBAI: In a major relief to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients, the state has made third-line medicines — Raltegravir and Darunavir— available for free at anti-retroviral therapy (ART) centres in Akola, Ambajogai, Aurangabad, Pune and Solapur from Wednesday.

Earlier third-line patients residing in various districts and cities had to travel to the ART centres at Sir JJ hospital, Byculla, to get free medication.

“We took special permission from National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) to allow us to dispense medicines in centres closer to patients’ homes. Maharashtra is perhaps the first state to take this initiative,” said an official from Maharashtra State AIDS Control Society (MSACS) that implemented the centre’s HIV control programme.

Till now, around 170 third-line patients from various districts and cities would have travel to the city every month to procure medicines. However, owing to long travel and financial pressures, patients would often stop taking treatments leading to mortalities.

Ganesh Acharya, an HIV patient, said that the move will help patients remain adherent to treatment. “If medicines are available closer to home, patients will not have to take leaves from work. Many HIV patients I know live away from their families and work very hard to make their ends meet.”

“A year ago, third-line patients from interiors of the state had to travel twice or thrice in a month to Mumbai, especially during medicine shortage. Owing to medication, these patients already have suffer from side effects such as vomiting and nausea and travelling becomes extremely difficult for them,” said Sachin Awasthy, programme officer, Vihaan, an initiative where they trace HIV patients who have stopped treatment. “This was a long awaited decision and we welcome it,” said Awasthy.