Intended for healthcare professionals

Rapid response to:

News Extra

Indian government faces court battle over antiretrovirals

BMJ 2003; 327 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.327.7411.360-c (Published 14 August 2003) Cite this as: BMJ 2003;327:360

Rapid Response:

Re: Inappropriate Legal Action by NGOs

Dear Sir,

I would say that pulling the governent of India to the courts at this
stage by the NGO is rather unreasonable. What is the point in giving 'free
treatment' when the medical science cannot guarantee a foolproof treatment
regimen or an ideal drug for the elimination of the virus that causes the
disease?

The best way to tackle the AIDS menace at this juncture in a
country like India is to educate the masses properly to prevent the spread
of the disease. Ironically, an AIDS patient who is 'deemed to be cured'
will still carry the virus and being sexually active, will transmit the
disease to more persons! I'd say that the attitude of the government in
this case is correct.

Competing interests:  
None declared

Competing interests: No competing interests

02 September 2003
Sugunan, VS
Scientist and group leader, viral hepatitis lab.
Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Trivandrum