Access to Rights and Knowledge (ARK) foundation has expressed dismay over the current prevailing and repeated shortage and complete out-of -stock of crucial ARV drugs in the ART centre at Dimapur Civil hospital for people living with HIV (PLHIV).
ARK president Ketho Angami pointed out that due to the ongoing imbroglio between the state nodal implementing agency (NSACS) and CMSS, contracted by NACO for the procurement and supply of the drugs, the ART center has on numerous occasions faced shortage/out-of-stock of the ARV drugs meant for the PLHIV community.
Citing an instance, ARK said that in October 2018 the drug– Atazanavir and Ritonavir– ran out of stock, which resulted in an outburst among PLHIV community resulting in a flash mob protest, following which the drug was replenished though in insufficient quantity. It expressed dismay that the shortage continued till mid January 2019 whereby PLHIV communities, who are supposed get to one month’s dosage, were issued doses for only few days.
On January 18, ARK said that there was no stock of the required drugs and the PLHIV were made to switch to another substitute drug– Lopinavir.
ARK said that only those who could afford the drug at a cost of Rs. 2300 per month were using it, while other had to face the crunch. Hoping that the matter be addressed by NSACS, ARK reminded that such past incidents of different ARV drug stock outs had led to filing of petition in the Gauhati High Court Kohima Bench in 2018, and the proceedings of the case was ongoing.
Meanwhile, ARK has also questioned NSACS and the state government about the delay in appointing ombudsman/s as per the HIV/AIDS Act 2017.