Govt to raise subsidy for ARV

JAKARTA: The government plans to increase its subsidy for antiretroviral drugs (ARV) to Rp 24 billion (US$2.6 million) for 10,000 people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), Minister of Health Achmad Sujudi has said.

The government is ready to disburse some Rp 10 billion to subsidize ARV for 5,000 PLWHA, he added on Monday.

He said the funds would be channeled to improve health services for PLWHA at 25 hospitals across the country.

After attending the 15th International Conference on AIDS in Bangkok, Thailand, Sujudi said Indonesia had reported the subsidy plans to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). -- Antara