In two months, the National Aids Control Society (NACO) will roll out its alternative first-line Anti Retroviral Therapy (ART) regime for HIV infected patients in the country who are developing a toxicity due to treatment using first-line drugs.

Newsline had first reported about the revised national guidelines of NACO to incorporate the alternative treatment regime in the free first line drugs already provided at ART centres in the country.

“NACO has finished the tendering process and soon all the 10 centres, including JJ Hospital in Maharashtra, will be able to give alternative treatment,” said Dr Rekha Jain of Maharashtra State Aids Control Society (MSACS).

The news comes as a relief to about 150 HIV patients across Maharashtra who are resistant to first line treatment and are taking second line treatment at private hospitals.

The news about the alternative treatment was announced at a first of its kind public hearing on the ‘importance of second line ART drugs’ where People Living with HIV (PLHIV) from across the state gathered to sensitise policymakers and civil society organisations about the importance of second line ART drugs. “Most of the patients on first line treatment are developing resistance to anti-HIV drugs. Second line treatment is available only at JJ Hospital. Not all patients can travel as they are weak and resort to private practitioners,” said Pravin from Network of Maharashtra by People Living with HIV (NMP+).

“Most of these patients need alternate drug therapy rather than second line drugs,” said Dr Ramesh Devkar, project director MSACS.

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