India is set to surpass South Africa as the country with largest number of HIV/AIDS cases in the world demanding a comprehensive response comprising treatment and prevention, care, research, education and training. And as an important component of this response, amfAR (American foundation for AIDS research) - an American NGO- has launched an innovative initiative called Therapeutic, Education and AIDS training in Asia (TREAT ASIA). From India Ruby Hall Clinic is participating in this three-year project. The other organization named YRG Centre for AIDS Research and Education from Chennai is also a part of the project.

Dwelling on the project Dr. Sanjay Pujari, Director, Department of HIV medicine at Ruby Hall Clinic said, "TREAT Asia is a network of clinics, hospitals and research sites working together to ensure the safe and effective delivery of AIDS treatments throughout Asia and the Pacific. Presently 21 sites in 11 countries from Asia and pacific region are participating in it." He further elaborated that the project would achieve its purpose by conducting research on appropriate treatment regimens, training health care workers, educating affected communities and building regional collaboration and policy capacity.

He revealed that through this project, the information such as demographic statistics and data on access to treatment and care would be gathered. "We would study the response of Indian population to the Anti-retroviral drug,'' noted Dr. Pujari.

Presently Ruby Hall Clinic witnesses around 80 patients per day visiting its HIV department, informed Dr. Pujari. "70% of the patients visiting the clinic are from outside Pune,'' said Pujari.

The project aims to impart benefits like inducing development of treatment standards that are responsible to the varying needs of patient populations in the region and help to expand access to experimental therapeutics. Amongst other benefits the project would also define and address the policy issues that impede expanded access to drug treatment for AIDS, remarked Dr. Pujari.

Ruby Hall Clinic is also working in collaboration with the University of South Florida, USA, wherein for the first time various aspects of the anti-retroviral drugs like pharmacokinetics, adherence amongst other aspects, would be studied. Said Dr. Pujari, "We would also study the reasons for developing resistance against anti retroviral drug amongst Indian patients and the barriers that prevent Indian patients to take doses of anti-HIV drugs. The protocol of the project is recently been worked out and the work on the same would start soon.'' Under the said collaboration the hospital also imparts two weeks hands-on clinical training to the physicians.