Q: I have heard that anti-retroviral drugs used for treating HIV in India are not original, and are called generic. This results in the patient becoming resistant, which leads to AIDS early. As compared to Western countries, people in India undergoing treatment live up to only 15 years after the infection. Is this true? Are there any institutes in India that provide Western drugs which can be accessed easily?

A:I am afraid your perception about anti-retroviral drugs produced by reputed Indian manufacturers being sub-standard is incorrect. The quality of these medicines is absolutely at par with those produced by drug companies in the West. These medicines are tested for quality by government bodies not only in India, but also in the West. There are many factors that influence the life of people with HIV such as nutrition, lifestyle, etc. which differ from country to country.