India launches Viral Load test for People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV)

Calling it a historic day, Shri J P Nadda, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare launched the ‘‘Viral Load testing for all People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV),”at a function, here today. The initiative will provide free of cost viral load testing for 12 lakh PLHIV on treatment in the country at least once a year. ShriNadda further announced that after ‘Treat All’, Viral Load test isa big step forward in treating and monitoring people living with HIV. “This Viral Load test is of immense importance to monitor the effectiveness of treatment of patients taking lifelong Antiretroviral Therapy,” he said.Smt. Anupriya Patel, Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare was also present at the launch function.

Shri Nadda further said that routine viral load testing will optimize the utilization of 1st line regimens, thus preventing drug resistance and ensuring the longevity of people living with HIV. “Viral Load testing will empower medical officers at ART to detect failure on first line treatment early and therefore save PLHIV from developing resistance to drugs. It will also help in strengthening ‘Mission Sampark’ in tracking LFU (Loss to Follow Up) PLHIV,” Shri Nadda added.

The Union Health Minister informed that in 2017, India revised the Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) treatment protocols to initiate all PLHIV on ART "Treat All". “This ‘Treat All’ initiative was started to ensure that treatment is started early and the virus transmission is curtailed both at the individual and the community level. Now about 12 lakh PLHIV are availing the benefit of free treatment from more than 530 ART centres,” ShriNadda stated.

Laying stress on addressing stigma & discrimination towards HIV,

Shri Nadda said that ending stigma is of paramount importance to enable persons infected and affected with HIV access health services. “To facilitate reduction in stigma and discrimination, the long pending HIV/AIDS Act has been passed, which is an historical step. Very few countries globally have such a law to protect rights of people infected with HIV,” ShriNadda elaborated. The Health Minister further informed that the key provisions of HIV/AIDS Bill are prohibition of discrimination, informed consent, non-disclosure of HIV status, anti-retroviral therapy & opportunistic infection management, protection of property of affected children, safe working environment and appointment of ombudsman in every State.

At the function, Shri J P Nadda also released the National Guidelines for HIV-1 Viral Load Laboratory Testing, National Operational Guidelines for Viral Load Testing, Standard Operating Procedure for HIV-1 Quant Assay with CBNAAT and Guidelines on Quality Monitoring System for Outsourced Viral Load Tests.

Speaking at the occasion, the Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Smt. AnupriyaPatel said that India is committed to achieving the global 90-90-90 target by 2020. “With launch of Test and Treat, there is increase in number of PLHIV needing treatment and thus the Viral Load testing. With increase in number of PLHIV on treatment the monitoring needs have also increased. For achieving this, NACO has scaled up the viral load testing facility in the country to monitor the viral load suppression”, SmtAnupriya added. She commended NACO for its global recognition and committed to providing all support to the people living with HIV/AIDS. Also present at the event were Sh. Sanjeeva Kumar, AS & DG (NACO), Dr. HenkBekedam, WHO Country Representative to India, Dr. BilaliCamara, Country Director, UNAIDS and Dr. Timothy Holtz, Program Director, Division of Global HIV and TB/India CDC, Sh. AlokSaxena, Joint Secretary (NACO), Dr. NareshGoel, DDG(LS), NACO and other senior officials from Ministry and NACO, representatives from CDC, civil society organizations, development partners and network of positive people.

The Health and Wellness Centers to provide a package of 12 services: J P Nadda

“The Health and Wellness Centers are expected to provide preventive, promotive, rehabilitative and curative care for a package of 12 services.” This was stated by Shri J P Nadda, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare as he chaired the 5th meeting of the Mission Steering Group of the National Health Mission (NHM), here today.ShriHardeep S Puri, Union Minister of State (I/C) Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, ShriAshwini Kumar Choubey and Smt. Anupriya Patel, Ministers of State for Health and Family Welfare and Dr. Rajiv Kumar, Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog were also present at the meeting.

Speaking at the meeting, ShriNadda said that NHM is vital to supporting the states in improving their health systems. He further stated that Hon’ble Prime Minister’s announcement of the heightened focus on the aspirational districts also provides us with significant leverage point to address long persisting inequities and development lag in these districts. This will be strengthened through NHM.

The Union Health Minister was updated about the progress under NHM. It was highlighted that under NHM-Free Drug Service initiative, funds are being provided to states/UTs for provision of free drugs in public health facilities and setting up of IT-backed systems for drug procurement and quality assurance. Currently all 36 states/UTs have notified policy to provide essential drugs free of cost in public health facilities. Under NHM Free Diagnostics Service Initiative, substantial funding is provided to States within their resource envelope to provide free essential diagnostic services at public health facilities. The program has been rolled out in 29 states/UTs which are providing free diagnostic Services either in-house or in PPP mode.

ShriHardeep S Puri, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) congratulated the Health Ministry for the progress on MDGs, especially in terms ofIMR, MMR, U5MR and HIV/AIDS. He assured full cooperation to the Health Ministry for overall development of the new aspirational districts.

The MSG of the NHM discussed various agenda points including enhancement of reach, outlay and facilities within components of the NHM, Prevention and Control of Viral Hepatitis, Immunization, Comprehensive Primary Health Care, Newer Intervention under Revised National TB Control Programme with respect to Patient’s Support and Private Sector Involvement,capacity building of health workers, etc. Many suggestions were also made by other members of the MSG.

The Union Health Minister stated that the meeting offered a valuable and useful platform for candid discussion on several issues, and a wider perspective from a wide section of experts which will enable to enhance quality and effectiveness of the NHM. ShriNadda further added that the suggestions would be taken into consideration to guide the roadmap on interventions to be taken up.

Smt Preeti Sudan, Secretary (HFW),ShriManojJhalani, AS & MD (NHM), and other senior officers of the Health Ministry were also present at the meeting. Representatives from Ministries of AYUSH, Tribal Affairs, WCD, Drinking Water and Sanitation, Panchayati Raj, Rural Development, Urban development, Department of Higher Education, Social Justice and Empowerment were also present at the meeting, along with experts in the field of healthcare.