Drugs for AIDS carriers available<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of Health yesterday denied
\nallegations that red tape has prevented the sale and distribution
\nof certain drugs that are needed by people who have the Acquired
\nImmuno Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) or the Human Immunodeficiency
\nVirus (HIV).<\/p>\n
Head of the Ministry's Directorate of Drug Supervision,
\nAndajaningsih, said in a statement that a number of medicines for
\npeople with AIDS\/HIV have been registered and distributed in the
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
Sjamsuridjal Djauzi, an internist, said last week that the
\nregistration of medicines in Indonesia is so painfully slow that
\nsome drugs needed to treat people with early symptoms of AIDS or
\nHIV are not even on sale in the country.<\/p>\n
Speaking at a seminar at the Cipto Mangunkusumo General
\nHospital (RSCM), Sjamsuridjal, said that the innovation and
\nprogress of medication to cure secondary infection of AIDS in
\nother countries is progressing fast, according to a Kompas
\nreport.<\/p>\n
He said that the Directorate General of Food and Drug
\nSupervision could not follow the rapid progress of the medicine
\ncapable of reducing the suffering of people with AIDS.<\/p>\n
According to clinical studies in several countries and RSCM's
\nexperience in treating 39 AIDS patients here, that was made
\npublic by Sjamsuridjal, "opportunistic infections" of AIDS could
\nbe cured, although the medicine to treat them were expensive.<\/p>\n
The AIDS sufferers could work as usual and reduce their
\ndependency on other people after the treatment.<\/p>\n
Andajaningsih admitted that one of the medicines, reported as
\nbeing not available in the country, is only now in the process of
\nbeing registered by the Ministry, but she said this is because
\nthe distributor only submitted the drug for registration on Nov.
\n23 and not because of red tape.<\/p>\n
The medicine is still undergoing evaluation at the Ministry of
\nHealth, she said, adding that the same medicine is also still
\nunder evaluation in Britain and the United States.<\/p>\n
The registration process of another medicine, Zalcitabine,
\nwhich is also to treat people that suffer from HIV\/AIDS disease
\ninfection, is in the final phase, she said.<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Health also pointed out at other medicines to
\ntreat people with AIDS\/HIV that are already available in the
\ncountry including Zidovudine under the brand name Retrovir and
\nDidanosine under the brand name Videx. (31)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/drugs-for-aids-carriers-available-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}