Emcure opens help centre for HIV patients

The Pune-based Emcure Pharmaceuticals has opened a help centre for HIV/AIDS patients. Christened as Taal, the centre would distribute Antiretroviral drugs at subsided costs in Pune and surrounding areas.

"As per census 2004, there are 5.23 HIV positive people in India. The country requires eight lakh Antiretroviral drugs, but at present the supply is only 55000 units. Taal will be a one-stop shop for treatment, counseling and dispensing of Antiretroviral drugs at subsided rates," said A K Khanna, director (Operations), Emcure.

The scope of the programme is not limited to Pune alone, he said. "In two-three months we will open Taal pharmacy in Namakkal in Tamil Nadu followed by Surat. The company has a five-year plan for Taal. With Taal, we will reach out 566 districts in the country by 2010 and it will account for 6-7 per cent of our turnover by then," he said.