KOTTAYAM: The Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART) centre at the Kottayam medical college hospital for the treatment of AIDS patients has been hit by lack of funds. The centre under the Kerala Aids Control Society was established in 2004. The 11 contract staff members of the centre have not been given salary for March and April.
There is inadequate supply of medicines given free to the patients. The centre also has no funds for meeting the telephone and internet expenses as well. The ART centre which is under the Department of Medicine of the MCH had taken up the issue with the Aids Control Society.
There are also no contingency funds and funds for daily activities as well. The emergency medicine supply has also been hit. More than 1000 patients avail of medicines and treatment at the centre. ART centres in Kottayam, Thiruvananthapuram, Alappuzha, Calicut and Thrissur medical colleges, apart from the centres functioning in Ernakulam and Kasargod , general hospitals and district hospitals in Kollam and Palakkad are also facing lack of funds.
