On March 6, Cipla, a well-known Indian pharmaceutical company, has always dominated the Indian anti-AIDS drug market and also launched the children’s anti-AIDS drug Lopinavir syrup. the only pharmaceutical manufacturer. Cipla has stopped producing lopinavir syrup after the Indian government failed to repay its previous drug purchase debt on time. As life-saving drugs for children with AIDS in India are out of stock, hundreds of people in despair have written letters to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for help.
This letter for help was written on March 4 and signed by 637 children aged 3 to 19 years old. The letter read: "Cipla Pharmaceuticals has mentioned in various forums that the national anti-AIDS drug project has been in arrears for many years and even refused to pay many payments.
The profits from anti-AIDS drugs are already very high. Coupled with the arrears in payment, it is difficult for India’s National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) to convince Cipla to continue participating in the project.”
It is reported that the Indian Ministry of Health is trying to solve the drug shortage crisis. , has informed the State AIDS Control Society (SACS) and requested them to procure anti-AIDS drugs from local pharmacies.
Arun Panda, assistant to the Indian Ministry of Health, said: “The government has launched an emergency bidding plan, but we have also notified the state AIDS Control Association and the government to purchase from local pharmacies. ”
However, because lopinavir syrup has been discontinued, the drug is not available at pharmacies. A staff member of an AIDS treatment center in New Delhi said: "The only pharmaceutical manufacturer has stopped production. No state in India is producing this drug. How can we buy it from pharmacies?"
But Cipla requires AIDS patients to Promise to pay. Vohra wrote in the email: "Cipla will always be on the side of patients - not just in India but around the world. We naturally hope that the debt issue will be resolved quickly." Cipla also They said they would not change their position unless the Global Fund or the Indian government resolved the issue of arrears.
Indian experts said that the current shortage of anti-AIDS drugs is "both sad and shameful" for India. Anand Grover, senior counsel of the Indian AIDS Lawyers Association, said: “The Indian government is deviating from its constitutional responsibility to provide life-saving drugs to the AIDS community, and Cipla is also deviating from its responsibility to provide drugs to the world. Commitment, this is really a great tragedy for India.”
For Indian children with AIDS, writing to the Prime Minister, Finance Minister and Health Minister is their last hope. "We implore you to investigate the situation of anti-AIDS drugs, especially children's drugs, to ensure that not all of these drugs are exported and that some of the drugs are reserved for domestic children with AIDS."