India launches 'smart card' to fight AIDS

Indo-Asian News Service
New Delhi, May 26, 2005

India is testing a new smart card system that will electronically
keep track of its HIV/AIDS patients and is expected to facilitate
medication through antiretroviral cocktails as well as track their
potency.

The cards, launched on Thursday, would be given to more than 300
patients receiving anti-retroviral drugs. They would need to bring
the cards each time they come to the hospital for anti-AIDS drugs or
for any other medical problem.

The cards would help health workers keep track of India's more than
five million HIV/AIDS affected patients and act as a portable
medical record. They fast-track treatment and medical response in
emergencies, provide greater security to medical records and ensure
immediate access and easy storage of data.

"These cards would revolutionise AIDS treatment," said Shubhashis
Gangopadhyay of India Development Foundation, which along with the
Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Indian Business Trust for
HIV/AIDS, is conducting the trials.

There are many uses of the health smart card in dealing with
HIV/AIDS when most of the affected population is mobile. For
instance, constant monitoring is necessary to prevent drug
resistance and the need to keep information confidential due to
social stigma.

The scheme has been praised by former US president Bill Clinton, who
is on a three-day visit to the country to oversee tsunami
rehabilitation and push for more efforts on the AIDS battle.

"The smart card idea is fantastic and I think that it would be
adopted by every country in the world," said Clinton.

With 5.1 million patients, India is the world's second largest
HIV/AIDS affected country after South Africa, which has 5.3 million
infections.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1377563,0050.htm