New Delhi: The shortage of life-saving drugs has compelled children living with HIV (CLHIV) to write a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in desperation.
Urging PM Modi to address the issue, 637 children aged between 3 to 19 years signed the letter requesting government officials to not only ensure export of proper drugs, but also provide accessibility and availability of the drugs to CLHIV India.
As per a report in The Hindu, Lopinavir syrup, the children-friendly HIV drug, has vanished from Indian markets after its only manufacturing unit CIPLA stopped producing it, due to 'non-payment of bills by the Health Ministry' clocking several years.
As per The Indian Express, the report mentions a series of email exchanges between the company officials, the government officials and the HIV community, in which the drug manufacturing company hinted that it will not budge from its decision until the government clear the pending bills.
Faced with a crisis, the Health Ministry says it has instructed State AIDS Control Societies (SACS) to purchase from local markets. “An emergency tender has been placed but we have instructed SACS and State Governments to purchase from local markets,” said Arun Panda, Additional Secretary, Health Ministry, The Hindu reported.
Claiming that the shortage of drugs was turning out to be an embarrassment for India's HIV program, an expert told The Hindu that, “The government is abdicating its constitutional responsibility to make available life saving medicines for the HIV community. It is also unfortunate that the present management of Cipla is walking away from its commitment to access to medicines all over the world, for which they are globally renowned.”
