Leprosy
mailing list – November 9th, 2005
Ccn: all.
Ref.:
1.
Moreira
de Souza A C, “Thalidomide in Brazil: monitoring with shared
responsibility? LML Oct. 28, 2005.
2.
Ganapati R,
“Thalidomide freely available in India”, LML Oct.17, 2005.
3.
Ganapati R, “BLP
press release on Seminar on Role of Thalidomide in Leprosy”, LML
Oct.16, 2005.
From: C
R Revankar, New Jersey, USA.
Dear Members of the forum,
Indeed, it is good news that
Thalidomide is freely available in India though it is expensive at
present. It is equally disturbing that some physicians
influenced by pharmaceutical/sale promoters use this drug in
leprosy without proper indication (2.)
All of us agree (both clinical and
public health leprologists) without any doubt that thalidomide is effective in leprosy
patients with chronic, recurrent type-II reactions with or without
neuritis not responding to steroids and to steroids in combination
with clofazimine. All of us agree that the needy leprosy
patients have a right to receive best available treatment with
thalidomide.
It is the moral responsibility of treating
physicians and professional organizations to follow medical ethics and
standard guidelines rather than follow sale promoters while using
Thalidomide. Thalidomide beneficiaries and their family members also
take the responsibilities to prevent improper use of this drug. It could be a shared
responsibility of all in India as followed in Brazil (Moreira de
Souza, LML, Oct. 28). Can we achieve this shared monitoring in a vast
country like India?
Medical professional associations such
as Indian Association of Leprologists (IAL), Indian Association of
Dermatologists, Venereologists and Leprologists (IADVL), Indian
Medical Association (IMA) and other national bodies such as
National Leprosy Organization (NLO) and Hind Kushta Nivaran Sangh (HKNS)
should write to national government and donor agencies to support
the cause.
The fourth coming IAL conference in
AGRA, India (November, 2005) may be a good opportunity to discuss
these issues to draw the attention of the government, donor agencies
and treatment providers.
Regards,
CR Revankar
revankarcr@gmail.com
