E-drug: Access to AIDS treatment in Honduras and other low resourse (cont)
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Francis,
Appropriate management of AIDS with drugs requires accurate
laboratory support such as monitoring viral load, CD4,CD8 count and
consideration of potential resistance that characterises the
antiviral agents.
I have my problems with the word "Appropriate". As long as we can't
treat our patients with the modern antiviral agents, we don't have to
consider viral loads and and other advanced laboratory tests.
Regulatory Activity is as inconsequential until then.
However, such regulatory authorities should be encouraged to give
priority to drugs such as acyclovir known to treat herpes simplex
and Zidovudine known to be efficacious in prevention of maternal HIV
transfer should donor funding be available to support such a
programme sustainably.
Our District Therapeutic Comittee has proposed to the national level
the addition of valazyclovir for the sole indication of Herpes Zoster
onto the Namibian Essential Drug list because our colleagues in
private practice see it works much better then azyclovir.
I am totally opposed to donor funding for operational (ongoing, core)
activities.
el
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Dr. Eberhard W. Lisse\ / Swakopmund State Hospital
<el@lisse.NA> * | Resident Medical Officer
Private Bag 5004 \ / +264 81 1246733 (c) 64 461005(h) 461004(f)
Swakopmund, Namibia ;____/ Domain Coordinator for NA-DOM (el108)
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