While the Central Government is preparing to offer anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs free, the Tamil Nadu AIDS Control Society (TANSACS) has started an exclusive pharmacy to provide ARV drugs at subsidized rates to HIV infected patients in Chennai. A drug store of this nature is first of its kind in India.

The pharmacy, located at the TANSACS premises in Egmore, is offering ARV drugs at a subsidized rate of 28 to 40 per cent discount. This would help HIV positive people to save at least Rs.500 to Rs.700 per month, as normally they require ARV drugs worth Rs.1500 to Rs.1700 per month, said sources.

The government controlled TANSACS has an arrangement with a few drug manufacturing companies, including Ranbaxy and Cipla, to supply ARV drugs at subsidized rates to the pharmacy.

The non-profit motive pharmacy will work from 9.am to 5.pm. A pharmacist has been appointed at the pharmacy, besides staff at TANSACS assisting sales at the counter. Any HIV positive person, who produces a prescription from a doctor who is authorized to treat HIV/AIDS infected people, can purchase drugs from the pharmacy.

TANSACS estimates the city of Chennai has about 2000 HIV/AIDS affected people. Out of them, about 700 to 800 require ARV drugs to balance the mounting viral content in blood. Depending on the success of the pharmacy, TANSACS would extend the facility to other towns and cities having sizeable number of HIV/AIDS infected population, and was planning to offer flexible time hours suiting the customers, said sources.

According to TANSACS sources, the agency had thought of offering ARV drugs at subsidized rates even before the Central Government announcement of offering free ARV drugs from April, next year.