It was in the month of December that the Supreme Court of India had ordered the government to provide second line treatment for HIV/AIDS free of cost to people. However, despite the new directive, it has been reported that patients living in non-metro cities will have to wait for the free services till the month of March.

Apparently, the National AIDS Control Organization that functions under the Union Ministry of Health and family Welfare has stated that it will take some time to execute the new order through all the anti-retroviral therapy centres in the Indian Subcontinent.

Second line treatment against the virus is used, when first line treatment fails to be beneficial for people and is known to cost around Rs 4,000 to 8,000 a month to people. The cost ends up being unaffordable for several inflicted by the condition.

Currently, only 1,516-people suffering from HIV/AIDS have been able to avail of the free offer, ever since the treatment was available across 10 centres in the country.

NACO has stated that second line services will be free in metropolitans New Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata and Mumbai. While free services will be available in Imphal, Chandigarh, Ahemdabad, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Varanasi from March.