Drugs are scarce and relatively expensive. One of the greatest difficulties is that up to now the government appears to be the losing the battle to provide help. Not only is the assistance that is given often misdirected, but import duties on the raw materials needed for the manufacture of Aids drugs also hinder distribution and raise costs. The government admits that it has had problems. JVR Prasada Rao, additional secretary at the Ministry of Health, conceded that there was a long period of denial about the scope of the disease between 1986 and 1992.
Money is, of course, the main problem.
What gives hope is that industry has realised that this is not an issue that can be apportioned to any one part of society.