DOCTOR - NDTV FREE TREATMENT

India's state-run AIDS control agency has nearly doubled the number of clinics giving free anti-retroviral drugs to tackle the fallout of the infection in the country with the world's most cases. Ninety-one centres are now operational from 54 about six months ago, and the number was expected to touch 100 by March, according to he the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO). About 85,000 people were expected to take up the offer of free anti-retrovirals at the government health centres over the next six months, up from the 40,000 now. All 91 centres have specially trained and appointed doctors, counsellors and laboratory technicians to help initiate patients on ART (anti-retroviral treatment) and follow up regularly. India has the world's highest HIV/AIDS caseload at 5.7 million people, according to UNAIDS. Activists say the government needs to set up more free treatment centres at a rapid pace because many poor HIV-infected people cannot afford to buy drugs from private chemists. The ARV drugs from private retailers cost around 1,400 rupees ($31) a month, prohibitive for most people in a country where the average monthly income is around 1,750 rupees. Besides the 40,000 Indians currently receiving free drugs from government centres, gigantic public sector organisations such as the railways provide nearly 10,000 people free treatment.
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