NHRC issues notice to Health Ministry over shortage of drugs of HIV patients

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) 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.

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.

The Commission has observed that the contents of the press report, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of human rights of HIV patients.

Accordingly, a notice has been issued to the Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, New Delhi calling for a factual report within two weeks.

He has also be directed 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.

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