On the afternoon of March 13^th 2008, Mr Duan Jun, one of NGO Working Committee members, and director of Henan AIDS Treatment Observation Project, received a call from an AIDS patient in Suiping County, Henan when he attended the regular meeting of NGO and PLHA Working Committees in Beijing. The AIDS patient mentioned that in Suiping County, AIDS patients were not given 3TC for several days, as the local supply of 3TC had run out. After Mr Duan Jun checked the facts with other local AIDS patients, NGO Working Committee changed the meeting agenda immediately, and started a discussion on this urgent topic. Ms He Yun, in charge of ARV supply in Henan Provincial Health Bureau, was contacted and shared the information that there is a supply shortage of 3TC all over Henan, and the backup storage in the province had run out too. Soon after, Mr Duan Jun visited NCAIDS and met with the director in charge of ARV supply. He reported the shortage, and asked for urgent help. NCAIDS began swiftly dealing with the issue making efforts to coordinate 3500 bottles of 3TC to be delivered, by air, to Henan by the next morning.

The supply of 3TC is becoming a serious issue all over the country. According to NCAIDS the delay in response mechanisms; between the demand and supply of the drug, donation requirements from pharmaceutical companies, and customs claim procedures, lead to the shortage of 3TC. To solve the issue on this occasion needs the full participation of grass roots organisations, NGOs, plus local and central government, to assure the sustainable supply for AIDS patients across the Province. 

We would like to extend our appreciation to NCAIDS and the Henan Provincial Health Bureau who made great efforts and took the immediate action required to solve this problem.

NGO Working Committee, CCM

HenanAIDS Treatment Observation Project

March 13^th, 2008

UPDATE: After further consultation, the emergency delivery to Henan was increased to 8000 bottles of 3TC.

* Translated by CHAIN