In India at least Six states are facing a severe shortage of condoms distributed under the government's AIDS control programme, giving rise to a public health concern over the risk of HIV infections spreading. These shortages have been continuing for around eight months in states such as Haryana, Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh, which have relatively high HIV prevalence. Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan also face a supply crisis, which, sources said, stemmed from bureaucratic delays in procurement. Target intervention groups, which distribute condoms as part of public health programmers, have written to the State AIDS Prevention and Control Society (SACS) and other bodies, urgently seeking supplies, sources said. The matter was recently raised with the Union health ministry, following which the health secretary met senior officials from the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) on Thursday. "The issue has been brought to my notice. We have a meeting again tomorrow where we will analyse the situation and take measures to address the problem," health secretary Lov Verma told media. Sources said the shortage is primarily caused by bureaucratic delays. "While HLL Lifecare is unable to keep up with the demand, negotiations with private players are a long drawn process," a source said. The crisis is not limited to condoms. There is also a shortage of HIV testing kits as well as anti-retroviral medicines, mainly pediatric drugs, across the country, health activists working with HIV patients informed.
