DOH giving out free anti-HIV drug

The Department of Health (DOH) is now giving out antiretroviral (ARV) drugs for free to people infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in an effort to bolster the country’s efforts to contain the disease.

ARV treatment is a combination of medications given to HIV-positive patients to delay the progression of the infection and delay the onset of full-blown Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).

When the DOH acquired the ARV medications in September 2005, patients had to pay P1,700 to obtain a month’s supply.

However, the DOH decided early this year to dispense the medicines for free so the health department can reach out to more HIV positive people, DOH HIV/AIDS program coordinator Joel Atienza said.

The ARV medicines were purchased using a part of the funds provided by the multi-sectoral Global Fund, which was created to finance a turnaround in the global battle against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

So far, the Global Fund has committed $49 billion in 131 countries to support interventions against the three diseases, which kill over six million people each year.

Atienza said only 73 HIV patients have applied for free ARV drug regimens and the DOH has a stockpile of ARV for 170 more patients for one month.

He urged HIV-infected people to come forward and avail of the treatment: "We already came out with advertisements about this free ARV. We hope that those who are not yet taking ARV avail of this program."

As of February last year, the DOH had registered a total of 2,454 HIV cases. But, based on international standards, it is expected that there are three hidden cases for every recorded case.