Health News
2006-07-29
Russia faces
anti-HIV drug shortage
An unfortunate
combination of bureaucratic mistakes, distribution
problems, and a rapidly growing AIDS epidemic has led to a
shor
An unfortunate
combination of bureaucratic mistakes, distribution
problems, and a rapidly growing AIDS epidemic has led to a
shortage of antiretroviral drugs for Russia’s
national treatment program. Gennady Onishchenko,
Russia’s head epidemiologist, told the Associaed
Press that health officials in the country are
trying to secure new supplies of anti-HIV medications,
but he warns that they are not likely to be
immediately available. The shortage has led to interrupted
drug deliveries throughout the country, particularly
in more remote areas. "There is, let's say, a
full range of treatments in Moscow, but they are
lacking somewhere in Siberia," Onishchenko says.
Currently, about 15,000 HIV patients in Russia are receiving
drugs through the national treatment program. AIDS
experts believe more than 1 million Russians are
infected with HIV, most through injection drug use.
(The Advocate)
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