VietNamNet Bridge – The lack of staff and a proper treatment network has denied many HIV/AIDS patients access to antiretroviral (ARV) treatment, according to the latest research by the Ministry of Health's Administration of HIV/AIDS Control (VAAC).

Doctors at 09 Hospital in Ha Noi examine an AIDS patient who has been treated by antiretroviral drugs. A staff shortage and poor treatment network have prevented HIV/AIDS patients from accessing needed treatments. — File Photo

At that time, ARV treatment facilities at the provincial level were available in all targeted localities.

However, at the district level, only 16 per cent of the provinces' districts had such facilities.

ARV treatment coverage differed widely from province to province. For example, 76 per cent of districts in the central province of Khanh Hoa had HIV/AIDS treatment centres while the percentage in the northern province of Son La was just 2.7 per cent, the study showed.

It also pointed out poor facilities and insufficient staff as problems in most ARV treatment centres.

On average, there were six health workers in each centre but 75 per cent of them were responsible for more than one position and 50 per cent were not properly trained in treatment procedures.

An insufficient supply of ARV drugs was also attributed to the low access, about 32 per cent of the demand at that time.

Making progress

Over the last three years, the number of ARV treatment centres for HIV/AIDS patients had increased visibly, making it easier for patients to access the service, said VAAC deputy head Bui Duc Duong.

ARV treatment was first offered for free to HIV/AIDS patients in Viet Nam in 2003 at two centres.

By last September, the number of centres had increased to 315, regularly providing ARV drugs to 45,000 patients, meeting about 50 per cent of demand.

"Demand for ARV drugs is still high while the current supply is mainly from international donors such as the United States President's Emergency Fund for AIDS Relief, the Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and the Clinton Foundation," said Duong.

Viet Nam was able to afford enough drugs for just 5,000 patients, accounting for 10 per cent of treated victims.

It is estimated that by 2015, about 150,000 HIV/AIDS cases will require ARV treatment and the country targeted providing treatment to 75 per cent of them, according to Duong.

The VAAC deputy head noted that the treatment for people with HIV/AIDS was not just about ARV drug provision but also other related infectious diseases and anti-stigma and discrimination work.

The administration has called on international donors for further technical and financial support.

"The VAAC is working with the health insurance sector so that ARV drugs, medicine for infectious diseases and test fees are all covered by health insurance," Duong said.

An official from the Institute for Social Development Studies Pham Thu Hong said that stigma and discrimination were also preventing patients from accessing the drugs as well as other services.

"Many of them even refuse to use their health insurance or travel far from their homes for treatment to avoid experiencing stigma," she said.

According to the Ministry of Health report, Viet Nam had about 228,680 people living with HIV/AIDS as of last September.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News