The ambitious project of the Union Health ministry, to provide free antiretroviral therapy (ART) to HIV infected patients from April 1, is delayed by another month in Pune.

The first phase will begin at J J Hospital in Mumbai while the second phase will commence at B.J. Medical College and Sassoon General Hospital in Pune and Sangli. Dr. Y.H. Doiphode, medical superintendent at Sassoon hospital will set up an ART programme centre where free medicines will be distributed.

The programme will have to wait till the first phase is completed and the government gets feedback on its success, Doiphode said. The programme has been envisaged by the Union government in association with National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO).

NACO will provide drugs and issue guidelines regarding ART. So far Sassoon hospital has registered 1,200 HIV infected people who are undergoing treatment. There are 10-15 new cases every week, he informed. The department of medicine conducts a special out-patient department on Wednesdays at 2pm.