The Supreme Court instructed the Centre and states to respond to concerns about the quality of anti-retroviral therapy drugs for HIV patients, following a plea from an NGO.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Centre and all states to submit their responses regarding the quality of anti-retroviral therapy (ART) drugs used for treating HIV patients in India.
A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan was hearing a plea filed in 2022 by NGO Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS and others.
The petitioners raised serious concerns about the supply and quality of anti-retroviral (ARV) therapy drugs given to HIV patients.
✔ The petitioners’ counsel informed the court that only four states had submitted responses so far to their affidavit, which highlighted key issues including the drug procurement process and quality control.
✔ The Supreme Court directed all states to file their responses and asked the Centre and states to respond within a month to the affidavit submitted in September 2024.
✔ The next hearing is scheduled for April 4, 2025.
Government’s Assurance on Drug Availability
✔ In July 2024, the Centre assured the Supreme Court that the government was ensuring the availability of free, lifelong ART drugs for all HIV patients under the National AIDS Control Programme.
✔ The Centre also claimed that there was no shortage of ARV drugs at a national level.
Although the petitioners acknowledged that there was no current shortage of ART drugs, they raised concerns over the quality and procurement process that could affect the treatment of HIV patients.
This case is crucial in ensuring that HIV patients across India receive high-quality, effective treatment without disruptions.
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