NHRC notice to health ministry over HIV drug shortage

The NHRC has issued a notice to the health ministry following a report that HIV patients were suffering due to shortage of medicines at government centres, a statement said Thursday.

Taking suo motu cognizance of the report, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) sent a notice to the secretary of the health ministry, calling for a government response within two weeks.

The commission has also asked the ministry secretary to submit a separate report on the measures proposed for preventing such shortages in the future.

"As per media reports, treatment of HIV patients across India has taken a hit, especially in Delhi and Mumbai, due to severe stock-outs of life-saving medicines at government-owned centres. Delhi, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka and Manipur are the worst hit," the NHRC said in a statement.

"The report raises a serious issue of violation of human rights of HIV patients," it added.

According to the commission, treatment and control of HIV, including dispensing drugs and testing, is handled by the government-run public health programme through its centres.