Nadda launches Viral Load test for PLHIV, to benefit over 12 lakh PLHIV

New Delhi, Feb 27: Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare J P Nadda on Monday launched the
‘‘Viral Load testing for all People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV),” to provide free-of-cost viral load testing for 12 lakh PLHIV on treatment in the country at least once a year.
Terming it as ‘historic’, Mr Nadda announced that coming as it did after ‘Treat All’, Viral Load test was a big
step forward in treating and monitoring people living with HIV. “This Viral Load test is of immense importance
to monitor the effectiveness of treatment of patients taking lifelong Antiretroviral Therapy,” he told the
gathering. Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare Anupriya Patel, senior NACO, WHO and UNAIDS
officials were present at the launch function.
He further said routine viral load testing would optimise utilisation of 1st line regimens, thus preventing drug
resistance and ensuring the longevity of people living with HIV.
“Viral Load testing will empower medical officers at ART to detect failure on first line treatment early and
therefore save PLHIV from developing resistance to drugs. It will also help in strengthening ‘Mission
Sampark’ in tracking LFU (Loss to Follow Up) PLHIV,” Mr Nadda added.
Mr Nadda also released the National Guidelines for HIV-1 Viral Load Laboratory Testing, National Operational
Guidelines for Viral Load Testing, Standard Operating Procedure for HIV-1 Quant Assay with CBNAAT
and Guidelines on Quality Monitoring System for Outsourced Viral Load Tests.
In 2017, India revised the Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) treatment protocols to initiate all PLHIV on ART
“Treat All”. “This ‘Treat All’ initiative was started to ensure that treatment is started early and the virus
transmission is curtailed both at the individual and the community level. Now about 12 lakh PLHIV are
availing the benefit of free treatment from more than 530 ART centres,” Mr Nadda stated.
Laying stress on addressing stigma and discrimination towards HIV, the minister said ending stigma
was of paramount importance to enable persons infected and affected with HIV access health services.
“To facilitate reduction in stigma and discrimination, the long pending HIV/AIDS Act has been passed, which
is a historical step. Very few countries globally have such a law to protect rights of people infected with
HIV,” Mr Nadda elaborated, adding that the key provisions of the HIV/AIDS Bill are prohibition of
discrimination, informed consent, non-disclosure of HIV status, anti-retroviral therapy and opportunistic
infection management, protection of property of affected children, safe working environment and
appointment of ombudsman in every state.
Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel said India was committed to achieving the
global 90-90-90 target by 2020. “With launch of Test and Treat, there is increase in number of PLHIV
needing treatment and thus the Viral Load testing. With increase in number of PLHIV on treatment
the monitoring needs have also increased. For achieving this, NACO has scaled up the viral load testing
facility in the country to monitor the viral load suppression,” Ms Patel said and commended NACO for
its global recognition and committed to providing all support to the people living with HIV/AIDS.
UNI SD ADG 2006