New pill to treat AIDS creates buzz

GUWAHATI: While HIV positive cases are on the rise in the northeast, Truvada, a pill, said to be the first ever pill to cure AIDS in the US, has created a buzz amongst patients here. However, the doctors are still not sure whether it will be right to jump into any conclusion as of now.
HC Barman, a senior health official of Assam State AIDS Control Society (ASACS) said, "We have heard about this new pill, but this is not the first such medicine; we already have 2{+n}{+d} line ART (Anti retroviral treatment) medicines.Seven such medicines are available in India right now. No confirmation has been given regarding this new medicine and such experimentation happen all the time. We cannot advocate the new medicine unless the health department and government approve it."
"The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not given its approval yet as it is still being considered. Unless something concrete comes up, we can't advocate anything and we would rather continue prescribing the medicines that we usually do," Barman said.
Barman added that the rate of infection is gradually coming down now, but the number of detection is increasing. "Earlier, there used to be 22 per 1000 positive cases, which have now come down to 7 per 1000 cases. However, the number of detection has increased over the years as more people are getting themselves checked now," he said.
There are around 166 ICTCT centers in the state and many new cases are being detected every year. In the northeast, the highest number of cases is being detected in Manipur. However, in Assam, the situation has improved considerably with people coming forward for detection," he said.