By Deborah Pranis – EMTV News, Port Moresby
The Key Population Partnership Network Coalition organized a forum today to discuss the low stocks of Anti-Retro Viral Treatment in the country. This forum was aimed at discussing the issue with the Department of Health and the National Aids Council Secretariat. According to the Coalition, some hospitals around the country have already run out of Anti-Retro Viral Treatment or ART and patients are being given Septrin in place of ART.
This forum was organized by the Key Population Partnership Network Coalition. The newly appointed Director for the PNG National Aids Council Secretariat Dr Nick Dala confirmed that there was a shortage of drugs. Dr Dala stated that it is a long process to buy and retrieve ART drugs.
The government has allocated K5 million for ART drugs in 2018 however, the total cost for ART drugs stands at around K15 million. The current stock is expected to run out by the end of this month.
