Eleven Receive A.I.D.S. Drug (Press, 30 November 1987)
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Summary: Eleven Receive A.I.D.S. Drug (Press, 30 November 1987)
As of 30 November 1987, eleven patients in New Zealand are being treated with the costly drug AZT (azidothymidine or zidovudine), which is used in managing AIDS. Dr Ralph Riseley, the manager of medicines and benefits at the Health Department, confirmed this development. The drug comes with a significant price tag, costing approximately $16,000 annually for each patient, not accounting for additional expenses related to necessary follow-up checks and laboratory tests as noted by Dr Richard Meech, chairman of the AIDS Advisory Council. AZT is primarily prescribed to patients diagnosed with or suspected of having pneumocystis pneumonia, a rare form of pneumonia that tends to occur in individuals whose immune systems are compromised by the HIV virus. While it is the only drug so far identified that can slow the progression of the virus within the immune system, its manufacturers, Wellcome, have clarified that it is not a cure for AIDS. Despite its limitations, the availability of AZT represents a crucial development in the ongoing battle against AIDS in New Zealand.
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