Question : FREE DRUGS TREATMENT FOR HIV AIDS PATIENTS

(a) whether a number of HIV/AIDS patients do not have access to Anti- Retroviral Treatment (ART) and second line medicines in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor alongwith the corrective measures taken in this regard;

(c) whether there is a gap between demand and supply of drugs for HIV/AIDS patients in the country;

(d) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor alongwith the steps taken to make them available free of cost to the patients as per the demand; and

(e) the steps taken/proposed to involve private companies to provide cheap drugs to HIV/AIDS patients in the country?

THE MINISTER OF HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI GHULAM NABI AZAD)

(a)&(b): No. All People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV), have access to free Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART), both for first line and second line Anti-Retroviral Treatment through a netw0ork of 324 ART centres across the country. In addition, 678 Link ART centres have also been established to provide easy access to ART services at peripheral level. The details of ART centres and Link ART Centres with PLHIV on ART, State and UT-wise is annexed.

(c): No. At present, there is no gap between demand and supply of first line and second line drugs for HIV/AIDS patients in the country.

(d): Does not arise.

(e): Under the National AIDS Control Programme, the procurement of ARV drugs is done through authorised procurement agent following a competitive and transparent process as per laid down procurement guidelines.