Journal of Infectious Diseases & Therapy
Open Access

Abstract

The global AIDS Epidemic has completed 36 years of its devastating presence killing over 35 million people. Yet India has brought hope to millions, for making HIV- a chronic, manageable and affordable disorder. Last decade has witnessed astounding evolution in ART, from treating few to �Treat-All� culminating in the WHO�s 90-90-90 by 2020 target, piggybacking on India�s strength. Fixed dose combination like anti-TB treatment, invented in India made ART affordable at 1% of innovators� cost, accessible meets 80% of global ART and easier with single-dose regimen. Innovators called Indian Generics copy-cats. When �West copies East�, why apply different yardsticks? Indian pharma risked inviting litigations, circumvented patents using reverse engineering and steadily brought down cost, with 100% bio-equivalence. Cheapest FDC annual cost is down from US$ 10,439/- per patient to $69. �Magic� cure for HIV is distant, but there are strategies and possibilities to end the epidemic. Indian ARVs are available including the newest Dolutegravir at 2% of innovator�s cost. For HCV cure, full course Sofosbuvir costs USD 84,000 globally, but in India its USD 1000 per patient through innovator�s voluntary licenses and USD 300 by patent violator, at 0.3% of International cost. Treating HIV-HCV is a public health imperative to prevent new transmissions, morbidity and mortality and delay will have grave public health consequences. Imagine a scenario of millions of HIV-HCV infections, minus India! Millions more would have died leading African continent towards extinction. The world recognized the Indian pharma strength in saving millions for decades from range of health issues only after HIV. In patents versus patients, the balance tilts towards patients to bridge the enormous gap. It�s a herculean task and will only be possible by an intensive and joint efforts of all including innovators. India will continue humanitarian mission to make life saving medicines affordable and accessible.

Biography

Ishwar Gilada is a Medical Doctor, specialized in Skin and STDs with special training in HIV management. He is the founder of India’s first private sector comprehensive HIV Care clinic, President of AIDS Society of India and is Secretary General of Peoples Health Org. India. He was the Jt. Sec. of National AIDS Committee, Govt of India (1995-97). He was the first to raise alarm against AIDS in 1985, is known for bringing India on AIDS control map, had started India’s first AIDS Clinic-1986 and has expertise in HIV care in resource-poor settings. He had trained several Doctors, Nurses and Social workers. He was Editor-Publisher of AIDS ASIA from 1993 to 2008. He has initiated, managed, supervised, evaluated over 40 HIV/AIDS projects in India, addressed over 3700 public meetings and training programs in India and abroad, has 280 scientific papers at conferences, written chapters in books on AIDS/STDs. He was consultant for American Foundation for AIDS Research (AmFAR), World Vision, USAID; has more than 65 awards to his credit including the "Outstanding Young Person of the World" –Glasgow in 1995 and Annemarie Madison Award-Germany in 1999 in Munich, Germany where he was termed as ‘the Indian Machinegun against AIDS’.