Free drugs for HIV patients

Chennai: For 11 year old HIV positive Geetha (name changed), it is stigma and the fear of rejection that bothers her.

A group of HIV positive patients gathered at the antiretroviral therapy (ART) centre at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital on Friday to observe World AIDS Day on December 1.

Geetha is one of the many children who listened to speakers that spoke of their struggle and treatment that they have undergone these years. S. Noori, president of the South India Positive Network, said that with just Rs 3,000 it was hard to buy ART drugs that cost nearly Rs 3,600.

“From April 2004, the hospital has begun giving free drugs,” she said, adding that the stigma attached to HIV positive patients is still high in rural areas.

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infects cells of the immune system. Infection results in the progressive deterioration of the immune system, breaking down the body’s ability to fend off some infections and other diseases.

“When immunity goes down, infection starts. CD4 count is one of the most important things to consider when to take ART drugs. The HIV virus was detected first in Tamil Nadu and for the first time in the country in the Madras Medical College in 1986. HIV patients are being provided free CT/MRI scan services,” said Dr. V. Kanagasabai, dean, MMC.

“Leave the fear and lead a healthy life. One also has to take a proper healthy diet,” advised a HIV positive patient. A total of 7705 people have done pre ART registration since 2005 at the GH.

ART drug cost varies with the line of treatment and start from Rs 3,000.

CD4 testing is done free of cost for all people living with HIV/AIDS in ART every 6 months. Suresh Rajan, one of the coordinators of an NGO that works for HIV positive children said, “There are 12 children between the age group of eight and 17 years under our care.

It was not easy to admit them in schools. We counsel them and provide a positive environ­m­en­t.­” ­

Chennai: While today drugs make it possible for the HIV positive to live normal lives, doc­tors warn patients can develop drug resistance if they are not regular in taking their medication.

“There are now wonderful HIV drugs available and patients can lead normal lives like everyone else. Just like diabetics need to take drugs life-long, these patients too must take their medication every day of their lives,” says Dr Abdul Khafoor, consultant, infectious diseases, Apollo Hospitals.

But Dr Anita Suryanarayan, vice president, operations, Lister Metropolis, underlines that regular intake of drugs is essential as pati­ents could otherwise dev­elop resistance to them.

“Just like we can develop resistance to antibiotics if we don’t complete the course of treat­m­e­n­t, th­er­e is a chance of de­v­­e­­loping drug resistance in HIV treatment too if patients are not regular in taking their medication,” she says, adding that while there’s no data on how ma­ny patients have developed drug resis­tance in India, it is as high as 76 per cent in the US. “We need to do su­ch a stu­dy in our country,” sh­e stre­sses.

“We give patients combination ART. For those who develop resistance to some drugs, new drugs are given,” explains Dr. Khafoor.