New Delhi, Dec 08: Government has proposed to provide treatment to eligible HIV positive children below 15 years of age with effect from April 1, 2004 in government hospitals of high prevalence states of Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Nagaland and Karnataka in a phased manner. In a written reply in Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare A Raja said deliberations had been initiated with pharmaceutical industry producing anti-retroviral drugs to find out the modalities for reducing the prices.
Government has also initiated dialogue with Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) for mobilisation of resources to strengthen training and diagnostic facilities in hospitals.
To another question, he said Karnataka was one of the six high prevalence states in respect of HIV in the country.
As per the HIV sentinel surveillance data collected in 2002, the prevalence rate among pregnant women in Karnataka, attending anti-natal clinics was found to be 1.75 per cent, he said.
The estimated number of women infected with HIV in the state stood at 21,000. Bureau Report