People living with HIV (PLHIV) from the region can heave a sigh of relief as the second line treatment for them is now available at city's Government Medical College and Hospital ( GMCH). Earlier the patients had to go all the way to Mumbai to avail of this treatment at the JJ Hospial.
The facility that started at anti retroviral treatment (ART) centre of the hospital since July 30 would be available in the region for the first time. The centre has already been involved in counseling and treating the patients in first line treatment.
First line treatment is administered to a person affected by the virus in the initial phase of the disease. After some time as the patient becomes resistant to the drugs being given, changes have to be made in the combination of drugs being used.
This change is called second line treatment. In order to change the line of drugs, the patient needs to undergo a blood test that was only done in Mumbai uptil now. The patients had to travel to the capital for this test. So far, Mumbai was the only place where second line treatment was available to PLHIV in Maharashtra.
Over 1500 people are using the treatment at the 11 centres in the district currently, including the one at Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital. A team of experts has already inspected the centre. Any hospital can be upgraded as a second line treatment centre only after receiving blood reports from Mumbai and being attested by experts.
The city being frequented by patients from nearby states like Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh, this facility would prove beneficial for them as well.
The facility that started at anti retroviral treatment (ART) centre of the hospital since July 30 would be available in the region for the first time. The centre has already been involved in counseling and treating the patients in first line treatment.
First line treatment is administered to a person affected by the virus in the initial phase of the disease. After some time as the patient becomes resistant to the drugs being given, changes have to be made in the combination of drugs being used.
This change is called second line treatment. In order to change the line of drugs, the patient needs to undergo a blood test that was only done in Mumbai uptil now. The patients had to travel to the capital for this test. So far, Mumbai was the only place where second line treatment was available to PLHIV in Maharashtra.
Over 1500 people are using the treatment at the 11 centres in the district currently, including the one at Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital. A team of experts has already inspected the centre. Any hospital can be upgraded as a second line treatment centre only after receiving blood reports from Mumbai and being attested by experts.
The city being frequented by patients from nearby states like Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh, this facility would prove beneficial for them as well.
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