A.I.D.S. Drug Supply Hindered (Press, 18 July 1987)
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Summary: A.I.D.S. Drug Supply Hindered (Press, 18 July 1987)
On 18 July 1987, a report highlighted the challenges faced by A.I.D.S. patients in Australia in accessing AZT, a drug that appears to slow the progression of the disease. Despite its potential benefits, many chronic A.I.D.S. sufferers are unable to receive this treatment due to financial and supply issues within the healthcare system. Dr Alvis Kucers, the medical director of the Fairfield Infectious Diseases Hospital in Melbourne, expressed his willingness to treat more patients with AZT if it were available, noting that many patients are well-informed about the drug's benefits. Currently, the supply of AZT in Australia is insufficient to meet the needs of all patients, particularly those classified as Category B who are infected but have not yet developed full-blown A.I.D.S. A spokesman for the Commonwealth Health Department stated that while AZT has not yet been officially released for market use, the government has agreed to cover half the treatment costs for 200 patients. He noted that this type of funding is typically the responsibility of state health authorities and acknowledged the high cost of the drug, estimated at $10,000 per patient annually. Dr Kucers pointed out that even if funding were available, sourcing the drug remains a significant hurdle. The American company responsible for manufacturing AZT is struggling to meet global demand, which has surged following the drug's introduction. The rapid development and availability of AZT were unprecedented, with a typical timeline for getting drugs to market being around five years. However, due to the urgency created by the A.I.D.S. epidemic and public pressure, there is a strong emphasis on quickly expanding the availability of AZT. Dr Kucers called for more stock to be made available to meet the needs of those affected by the disease.
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