There is a general lack of hospitals and public health centres, of medical staff and equipment, and of medicines. Also, there are no statutory health insurance schemes. AIDS is particularly widespread among the poor, who often live from casual work. In many cases, two members of a family are infected, but their savings suffice for at most one treatment. In the Indian patriarchal culture they have priority.
Children come second.
The women sacrifice themselves for the others. That was followed by Stavudin, and in 1998 by Lamivudin. All are elements of the successful, virus-inhibiting combination therapy. Cipla offered the medications at greatly lower prices than other companies were asking. That in turn moved the international competition to cut their prices on the Indian market.