People living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) in Mysuru are in trouble due to a particular class of antiretroviral medication shortage. Due to treatment stoppage, they are now concerned for their health because the medication must be taken every day without fail. The Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) centre officials reported that the medicine was obtained late and needs to be tested in the lab before being given to the PLHIV.

According to a spokesman from the PLHIV network, Mysuru′s lack of a few drug combinations is causing problems for over 100 PLHIV patients receiving second-line therapy. If treatment is delayed any longer, the patient′s condition could deteriorate and their health could decline, forcing them to move on to the next stage of treatment, which is initially only offered in Bengaluru.

He added that there had never been a problem when the medications had previously been sent straight to the centre by the Karnataka State Aids Prevention Society. Presently, the local ART centres were procuring the medicines and since then the problem had started.

Another officer said that 6,500 of the district′s 19,400 registered PLHIV patients frequently take medications from the KR Hospital′s ART centre. The officer accepted the fact that until recently, two medicine combinations were not readily available. However, they have been acquired and can now be delivered after the lab test. (Times of India, Aug 29, 2022)