Taking cognisance of media reports that life saving medicines for HIV patients, are out of stock in metros like Delhi and Mumbai, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a notice to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and asked for a report within two weeks.
Describing the shortage of drugs as “a serious issue of violation of human rights of HIV patients,” the Commission directed the Ministry to submit a report on the short term and long term measures proposed for preventing shortages of such essential medicines.
The NHRC said in a statement that treatment and control of HIV, including dispensing drugs and testing, was handled by the government run public health programme through 355 centres and stock-outs have hit centres in Delhi, Maharashtra,Gujarat, Karnataka and Manipur the most.
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“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 antiretrovirals (ARVS). It has also sought strengthening and streamlining drug forecasting, procurement and supply chain mechanism to prevent future shortages,” the statement said.