Protests by a group of HIV-positive people alleging shortage of certain antiretroviral (ARV) drugs entered its 30th day on Friday with officials from the National Aids Control Organisation (NACO) stating that they had met with the group and assured them of fresh supply of medicines.
“Fresh supplies are being expedited and airlifted to priority locations,’’ the Health Ministry said, while protestors maintained that they would continue the dharna until “all HIV patients in India start receiving one month of medicines”.
“The representatives acknowledged these improvements in stock availability and dispensation for one month, especially in Delhi and many other States, yet they continued to raise anecdotal issues of ‘stock-out’ of ARVs in a few States as well as lay instances of patients not receiving drugs,’’ the Ministry added.
