The idea behind the pack was also to help avoid the need for pregnant women from rural areas to travel. "The problem with many women in rural areas is that once they are diagnosed as HIV positive, they do not turn up for follow-up check-ups for many reasons. So in this case, at that point of testing she is counseled and handed over this pack by the doctor," adds Dr Mehta. 

The Way Forward

The Mother-Baby pack team has already approached the Indian Government, making them aware about the pack. Says Dr Gogtay, "The Indian Government follows an international set of guidelines for treatment of pregnant women diagnosed as HIV positive. These guidelines are undergoing changes. Currently, there are two available forms of treatment. While Option A is the treatment using the Mother-Baby pack, the other option is administering pregnant women with three drugs called the triple therapy. So we will have to wait for the decision of the Government towards its choice."

Patient-compliance inevitably remains a challenge for the team. Before the pack was produced, a feasibility study was conducted by the UNICEF as to whether such a pack would be acceptable amongst pregnant women, with the result being positive. The UNICEF is now conducting similar feasibility studies in the African regions.

Cipla has more plans in the pipeline to make these drugs easily available to the common masses. Today, almost 1 out of 3 HIV-infected patients in the least developed countries is on Cipla drugs and the team claims that they will continue to work towards its commitment of ‘None shall be denied.