Thiruvananthapuram: The withdrawal of customs duty exemption to life-saving drugs by the finance ministry led to the shortage of HIV medicines, according to NACO. Responding to an email query by this newspaper, Dr B.B. Rewari, NPO (ART), NACO, replied, “Stock level for ZL (adult) and LPV/r 250/50 was critical mainly due to some change in custom/excise duty in between ongoing procurement process which cause some delay for procurement of these particular drugs.”
Earlier, KSACS had said that there was shortage of Zidovudine-Lamivudine (ZL). Its joint director T.V. Velayudhan had said that the problem was solved a week ago as they received 1,30,000 doses. Dr Rewari confirmed that the issue for ZL (Adult) is resolved and supply has reached states. The drug which is still in short supply is Lopinavir/Ritonavir. Dr Rewari said that in the place of the adult formulation of L/R with a dosage of 200/50, AIDS Control Societies have been advised to use the paediatric formulation (100/25).
“The issue is being managed by using Lopinavir/Ritonavir (100/25) formulation. Instead of 2 tablets, daily 4 tablets need to be used. The drugs will be relocated from other places if need be. Orders have already placed and supply is expected to reach states by next week,” he said.
It was in February that the finance ministry withdrew the exemption from customs duty. Apart from HIV drugs, the decision affected more than 70 other life-saving drugs., including cancer drugs. "This led to change in prices. The medicines are procured annually. We had to re-issue tender, as some companies increased the rate. There was a delay in the award of contract," said Dr Rewari.
However, the ministry’s policy did not change the cost much, according to him. "The exemption was on 5% customs duty. So this did not change the price much. The increase in pricing would be around 1 %," he said. He reiterated that NACO will ensure that the medicines are free at ARTs. If at all the medicines are procured by the patients themselves, the money will be reimbursed, he said.
