NHRC sends notice to Health Ministry over dearth of HIV drugs

Concerned over the reported shortage of drugs for HIV patients across the country, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sent a notice to the Union Health Ministry asking for a report on measures taken to tackle the situation.
"The Commission has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that treatment of HIV patients across India had taken a hit, especially in Delhi and Mumbai due to severe stock-outs of life saving medicines at Government owned centres," said NHRC in a statement.
Treatment and control of HIV, including dispensing drugs and testing, is handled by the government run public health programme through 355 odd centres.

Stock-outs have hit centres in Delhi, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka and Manipur the worst, according to the report.
"The contents of the press report, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of human rights of HIV patients," observed the Commission.
The notice has been issued to the Secretary, Health Ministry calling for a factual report within two weeks.

The Commission has directed him to submit a report on the short term and long term measures proposed for preventing shortages of such essential medicines.
According to the media report, Delhi Network of Positive People (DNP+) representing HIV patients, has sought emergency procurement and relocation of stocks to the government owned centres experiencing stock-outs of ARVS, the statement said.

It has also sought strengthening and streamlining drug forecasting, procurement and supply chain mechanism to prevent future shortages.