The Department of AIDS Control is planning to extend third line antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV/AIDS patients through 10 centres of excellence across the country under the recently-launched fourth phase of the National AIDS Control Programme.

This is being initiated as per the recommendation by the Technical Resource Group on ART some time back to provide third line ART for the patients.  At present, first line and second line antiretroviral therapy are given to HIV/AIDS patients free of cost in all ART Centres across the country, sources said.

As per the HIV/AIDS Bill which was recently introduced in the Parliament, the Central Government or the State Government should take measures for providing, as far as possible, antiretroviral therapy  and Opportunistic Infection (OI) management to people living with HIV/AIDS.

Under NACP IV, it is proposed to have 600 ART Centres in the country by March 2017 to make available quality treatment to eligible people living with HIV/AIDS. The pre-ART follow up at ART centres is being strengthened. Emphasis is being given to pre-ART care.

Currently second line ART is being provided through centres of excellence and ART Plus centres.  As on 31st March 2013, 27 ART Plus Centres are giving treatment in addition to the 17 centres of excellence, according to the Department.

It is planned to upgrade 7 more ART centres into ART Plus Centres in 2013-14 which will ensure that each state will have at least one ART centres to provide Second line ART . The process for same has already been initiated, sources said.