Some Drugs Not Available to HIV/AIDS Patients in Ukraine

According to a report by NTD Television, "Ukraine is now short of at least five" medications to treat patients with HIV/AIDS, which is putting the lives of 20,000 people at risk. "Ukraine's National HIV Support Network says that the Ministry of Health has delayed buying necessary medication," NTD reports, adding that the health ministry said it is giving patients medications similar to the ones that are not available. Some advocates in the country fear the lack of medication might lead to HIV resistance to drugs, but the government "is confident there is no threat of interrupted treatment. They say some of the drugs are currently undergoing quality control, and any missing drugs will be procured by next week," the article reports (2/1).