XN000022-1996-11-06 — Page 30

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Treatment of HIV infection

Following is a question by the Hon Law Chi-kwong and a written reply by the Secretary for Health and Welfare, Mrs Katherine Fok, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

In view of the medical advancement in the treatment of HIV infection reported last year, will the Government inform this Council:

(a)

(b)

(c)

whether the Department of Health or the Hospital Authority provides new drugs (notably protease inhibitors) and viral load measurement to patients infected with HIV;

whether there is any policy on making protease inhibitors, drug combinations and viral load measurement available to patients infected with HIV; and

of the policy on the funding of new HIV treatment methods and research?

Reply:

(a)

Protease inhibitors and viral load measurements are recent advances in the management of patients infected with HIV. Currently two protease inhibitors have been registered in Hong Kong. Since both protease inhibitors and viral load measurement are new to Hong Kong, they have been introduced by the Department of Health and Hospital Authority on a pilot basis. In the case of protease inhibitors, these are made available to selected and indicated AIDS patients at higher progression risk, in line with the current consensus of experts that they should best be reserved as a second line drug rather than to be used as part of the initial drug regimen for HIV patients.

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