********************************************************** SAATHII Electronic Newsletter HIV NEWS FROM INDIA SOURCE: The Economic Times, The Washington Times, Nagaland Post, www.zeenews.com,www.businesswireindia.com, The Business Standard, www.ndtv.com, The Indian Express, The Telegraph India, www.mizzima.com, www.pib.nic.in Posted on: 03/10/2007 COMPILED BY: Randhir Kumar, B. Vilasini, and L. Ramakrishnan SAATHII Chennai Office. Note: this compilation contains news items about HIV/AIDS published in the Indian media, as well as articles relevant to HIV/AIDS in India published internationally. Articles in this and previous newsletters may also be accessed at http://www.saathii.org/orc/elibrary =============================================================== 1. HC issues notice to Centre on faulty HIV test kits (New Delhi) The Economic Times, August 27,2007. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Healthcare__Biotech/_HC_issues_notice_to_Centre_on_faulty_HIV_test_kits/articleshow/2311543.cms 2. Sex trafficking said to spread AIDS The Washington Times, August 27,2007. http://washingtontimes.com/article/20070827/FOREIGN/108270027/1003 3. Positive women forum, NNP+- (India) Nagaland Post, August 28, 2007. http://www.nagalandpost.com/Opiniondesc.asp?sectionid=46114 4. HIV-plus people to rally in UP for rights (Lucknow) www.zeenews.com, August 29 , 2007. http://www.zeenews.com/znnew/articles.asp?aid=391454&sid=REG&sname=&news=HIV-plus%20people%20to%20rally%20in%20UP%20for%20rights 5. "Children's Voices Largely Absent at ICAAP8" - PWN+ & World Vision www.businesswireindia.com, August 30, 2007. http://www.businesswireindia.com/PressRelease.asp?b2mid=13624 6. News from the world of NGOs (New Delhi) The Business Standard, August 31, 2007. http://www.business-standard.com/economy/storypage.php?leftnm=3&subLeft=1&chklogin=N&autono=296385&tab=r 7. Family appeals for permission to end life (New Delhi) www.ndtv.com, August 31, 2007. http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20070023424 8. 300 take part in HIV/AIDS awareness rally (Lucknow) The Indian Express, September 1, 2007. http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=253952 9. Nagaland plans all-faith talks (Kohima) The Telegraph India, September 1, 2007. http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070901/asp/northeast/story_8262084.asp 10. Indian officials on edge over Burma's HIV/AIDS information black-hole (New Delhi) www.mizzima.com, September 1 , 2007. http://www.mizzima.com/MizzimaNews/News/2007/Aug/96-Aug-2007.html 11. AID FROM UK (New Delhi) www.pib.nic.in, India, September 2, 2007. http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=30758 =============================================================== 1. HC issues notice to Centre on faulty HIV test kits (New Delhi) The Economic Times, August 27,2007. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Healthcare__Biotech/_HC_issues_notice_to_Centre_on_faulty_HIV_test_kits/articleshow/2311543.cms New Delhi: HC issues notice to Centre on faulty HIV test kits The Delhi High Court has sought responses from the Centre and the National AIDS Control Organisation on a PIL alleging that lakhs of rupees were given to a private company for supplying sub-standard kits for rapid test of HIV/AIDS. A bench comprising Justices T S Thakur and Kailash Gambhir also issued notices to the Drug Controller General of India and Span Diagnostics, a Surat-based company which supplied the kits. The PIL, filed by the NGO 'Adhikar', alleged "the rapid test kits supplied by the company were of sub-standard quality and they did not have the quality to determine whether a person is HIV positive or negative." The NGO also sought an inquiry into the case. "An investigation needs to be done to know how a sub-standard product to test HIV virus was purchased and to fix the responsibility and punish the persons responsible for it, "the advocate appearing for the NGO, Arvind Nigam, contended. The Centre had placed an order for 63 lakh AIDS rapid test kits for government hospitals. "These kits produced negative results and the state government informed the centre about the faulty kits but no action has been taken so far," Nigan claimed =============================================================== 2. Sex trafficking said to spread AIDS The Washington Times, August 27,2007. http://washingtontimes.com/article/20070827/FOREIGN/108270027/1003 Washington:Sex trafficking said to spread AIDS Policies to reduce demand for sex-trafficked women and girls may significantly reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS worldwide, according to a recent Harvard School of Public Health study. Steps should include better methods of preventing sex trafficking and of protecting its former victims, the study added. The study, based on research conducted between 1997 and 2005, found that 38 percent of girls and women sex-trafficked from Nepal to neighboring India had HIV, the disease that causes AIDS. India ranks third globally in the number of people who have HIV/AIDS. "More and more evidence suggests that sex trafficking is affecting a greater number of women and children across the globe," said Jay Silverman, lead author of the study that was released earlier this month. "In the region where India is located, the trafficking of individuals into the prostitution industry appears to greatly contribute to the spread of HIV. Yet, amazingly little attention has been given to this issue in the past." The researchers discovered that two-thirds of young girls who were trafficked before they turned 15 years old were already HIV positive. Just as horrifying, Mr. Silverman noted, is the fact that one in seven girls was trafficked before her 15th birthday. Young girls from Nepal often are kidnapped and sold into sex slavery at Indian brothels,Mr. Silverman said in an interview. These females are considered a valuable commodity because clients pay more for young girls than they do for older women who voluntarily work as prostitutes. But the young girls are extremely vulnerable to contracting HIV and are less likely to receive medical care, Mr. Silverman said. And usually they are unaware they contracted the disease, further contributing to the spread of HIV. "For those lucky ones who are able to escape the brothels, they often return to poor regions of India or Nepal, where few medical and social services are available to them," Mr. Silverman said. "Stigmatized, impoverished and often ill, the girls may have little choice but to return to a life of prostitution." According to the State Department, more than 800,000 people are trafficked globally each year, 80 percent of them women and young girls. Of those, between 5,000 and 7,000 young girls and women are trafficked between Nepal and India. Even so, the International Organization for Migration reports that trafficking remains, for the most part, an unreported crime. Each year, the organization provides direct assistance to more than 100,000 trafficking victims. "But this unfortunately only represents the tip of the iceberg," according to the migration organization. "Many more victims require protection and assistance and more needs to be done to prevent trafficking. "It is also crucial for law enforcement agencies to work together to crack down on those who organize and benefit from this crime," the statement said. "Until this is done, trafficking will continue to thrive because it is so lucrative." =============================================================== 3. Positive women forum, NNP+- (India) Nagaland Post, August 28, 2007. http://www.nagalandpost.com/Opiniondesc.asp?sectionid=46114 India: Positive women forum, NNP+- Ever since the first HIV Positive case in Nagaland (1991) was detected, a lot of activities have already been initiated in the state to create awareness and to promote enabling environment. Besides reluctance of women and children to come out openly with their status, we cannot deny that although we have been fighting HIV/AIDS for over many years, there is still a good amount of ignorance of the hard realities of women and children in regard to epidemic, their rights and needs and less support. Survey shows that 40% among the HIV infected population is comprised of women in India where as in Nagaland, 60% are women among those who are coming out. Within short span of time, we can see the increasing percentage of women and children infected with HIV in our state and gradually becoming more susceptible to the disease and therefore the challenges posed by HIV/AIDS in Nagaland remain formidable. Realizing the Greater Involvement Of People Living With HIV/AIDS (GIPA) principle (Paris AIDS Summit in 1994), we the women and children living with HIV/AIDS felt that participation of women and children can assist in identifying more accurately on the priority needs that exist and probably the most amicable and effective ways to address them so as to create an environment free of stigma and discrimination. The Positive Women Forum (PWF) which is the only Positive Women Forum in Nagaland formed on May 6, 2006 comprising of over 200 infected Women and Children of Nagaland with the vision and mission to improve the overall quality of life of women and children living with HIV/AIDS, look in mainstreaming concerns of women and children and see that access to service and constitutional rights are maintained. At present, we have Positive Women Forum in six districts i.e. Tuensang, Dimapur, Kiphire, Phek, Zunheboto and Kohima. When women are observed worldwide as more vulnerable to HIV/AIDS and feel that lot of attention is needed, PWF which exists despite much hardship, stigma and discrimination, no help or support has been rendered till now. But we hope that our voices will be heard at all levels and we are looking forward for your kind responses. Besides Advocating issues and Networking, we also strive towards achieving our key objectives in order to have an effective comprehensive HIV/AIDS prevention and care and support programs particularly for women and children in Nagaland such as: 1. To build the skill and knowledge of WLHA on effective implementation of women and children program in the state and districts. 2. To implement programs specific for women and children infected and affected with HIV. 3. To develop women positive speaking bureau to address stigma and discrimination in the districts. 4. To bring out a possible Change in factors that make women and children more vulnerable to HIV infection by giving sufficient attention and by providing nutritional care and support for people living with HIV/AIDS . 5. To help HIV/AIDS affected households live with dignity and security by helping and giving them immediate food, nutrition and other basic needs. Immediate Needs : "Nutritional care and support to promote well-being, s elf-esteem and a positive attitude to life for people and their families living with HIV/AIDS. "The training components for Positive Women Speakers Bureau to effectively advocate for the rights of women and children living with HIV "Support for Self sustainability of positive women (to earn their livelihood) in respective Districts. Lastly but not the least, we the Positive Women Forum of NNP+ is confident that with the firm support of NSACS, Governmental Departments and the communities in all aspects, will definitely bring a remarkable turn around in giving a human face to the pandemic and to uplift the overall living standard of women and children living with HIV/AIDS in particular and People Living with HIV/AIDS in general. =============================================================== 4. HIV-plus people to rally in UP for rights.(Lucknow) www.zeenews.com, August 29 , 2007. http://www.zeenews.com/znnew/articles.asp?aid=391454&sid=REG&sname=&news=HIV-plus%20people%20to%20rally%20in%20UP%20for%20rights Lucknow: HIV-plus people to rally in UP for rights A rally would be taken out here on August 31 by an NGO to fight for people living with HIV/AIDS to gain acceptability in society. 'One voice for one sign - a mark to change your life' is the motto of people living with HIV/AIDS to fight for their rights. These HIV-positive people of the Indian network for people living with HIV/AIDS (in Plus) will be using the slogan to garner support for passage of the HIV/AIDS Bill pending in Parliament since 2003 at the rally. "National AIDS Control Society is the only organisation, which is currently issuing guidelines and directives to conduct programmes for HIV-plus people but it does not have power to take action against anyone committing atrocities against them," an office-bearer of the NGO told here. He said they were facing discrimination everywhere be it in the office or in social circles and pointed out that the passage of the bill would somehow help in protecting rights of those living with AIDS. The draft of the bill was prepared by NACO, in Plus and other organisations and was pending with the Law Department, he said adding the rally was aimed at the press for its passage. A number of organisations working for HIV-plus people like the Uttar Pradesh AIDS Control Society are expected to participate in the rally, its organisers said. =============================================================== 5. "Children's Voices Largely Absent at ICAAP8" - PWN+ & World Vision (Chennai) www.businesswireindia.com, August 30,2007. http://www.businesswireindia.com/PressRelease.asp?b2mid=13624 Chennai: "Children's Voices Largely Absent at ICAAP8" - PWN+ & World Vision Positive Womens Network (PWN+) and World Vision India expressed concern at the fact that the voices of children were not heard adequately at the recently concluded International Congress on AIDS in the Asia Pacific at Colombo, Sri Lanka. PWN+ is the only organization that has been started by HIV positive women and children in India. World Vision India is a Christian humanitarian organisation working to create lasting change for children, families and communities living in poverty and injustice. The congress had so many people and no children except us. That was sad. I think when they have the next one, they should allow more children living with HIV to participate and talk about their issues. Its good if we can have more children than adults, said Saran, one of the three children who were present at the congress. The children were part of a group that attended the conference under the auspices of World Vision India and PWN+ to participate in a satellite session co supported by UNDP on Listening to childrens voices on 21 August 2007. The conference opened with the bold words of the UNAIDS regional adviser calling children the missing faces of the HIV epidemic. But this was not reflected adequately in the content of the Congress, according to Bradley Thompson, World Vision National coordinator for HIV and AIDS programmes in India, While there were a few sessions focussed on children, the involvement of children was clearly not enough. World Vision and PWN+ co-hosted a satellite session on HIV and AIDS and its impact on children themed Listening to childrens voices during the congress. The three children who spoke at the session were the only children at the whole congress,says Kausalya, President, PWN+. At this session, the children said their biggest fear was that their HIV status would be discovered at school. The climate of stigma and discrimination makes it hard for the children to explain repeated sickness and the need to take medicines during school hours. Said Saran,I want to tell my friends in India not to discriminate those who are infected. Even teachers in school have got the wrong information about the spread of the virus. My sister has to take so many tablets and she hates it. It hurts me to see her go through that pain, and I wanted to tell people that they need to hurry up and do something to reduce dosage for children,said Vaishali*, the thirteen-year-old sister of Saran. The most painful moment for me was when my daughter asked me why I did not use prevention of parent to child transmission (pPTCT) protocols when she was born though PPCT services were available in the year 1996, said Padmaja, Sarans mother and also general secretary of PWN+. Every HIV+ pregnant woman should have information about pPTCT and access the service. We need a concerted effort by all actors including the Government, NGOs, CBOs and Positive networks to reduce stigma and ensure universal access to services for women and children affected by HIV and AIDS,stressed Bradley Thompson. World Vision and PWN+ are advocating strongly for universal access to pPTCT protocols for pregnant women across the country as a way to prevent HIV crossing over into the next generation. Universal access to paediatric drugs is also an urgent need. =============================================================== 6. News from the world of NGOs (New Delhi) The Business Standard, August 31, 2007. http://www.business-standard.com/economy/storypage.php?leftnm=3&subLeft=1&chklogin=N&autono=296385&tab=r New Delhi:News from the world of NGOs AIDS awareness programme Population Services International launched CONNECT, an initiative to spread HIV/AID awareness among the corporate workforce, last week. Other prominent partners implementing the project include the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the YR Gaitonde Centre for AIDS Research and Education (YRGCARE) and the Karnataka Health Promotion Trust. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) is a technical support partner of the project. The initiative has been able to raise over Rs 40 lakh from the private sector so far with partnerships from Apollo Tyres and Aurobindo Pharmaceuticals. Financial literacy ICICI Prudential Asset Management Company has launched an initiative called Swabhimaanto to train weaker sections of society and make them financially independent. It has partnered with Mumbai-based NGO Vidya to take the initiative forward. Global HIV meet HIV-positive children called for an end to discrimination at a recently concluded International Congress on AIDS at Colombo in Sri Lanka. The children were representing NGOs Positive Womens Network and World Vision India. TERI herbal gardens The Energy Research Institute (TERI) has launched the Home Herbal Garden Project in Delhi, in association with the National Medicinal Plants Board. The initiative has been taken to sensitise community and spread awareness about herbs and herbal gardens. PM on fishing ban Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday met four leaders of the National Fishworkers Forum (NFF), which has been on an indefinite agitation seeking withdrawal of a ban on fishing sea cucumbers. He met them in the presence of several MPs and promised to facilitate a resolution in the next 10 days. The NFF has decided to carry on the agitation till the ban is lifted. NGOs take up sex workers cause Representatives from Durbar Mahila Samannwaya Committee, Kolkata, Ashodaya Samiti, Mysore and Mandya and Godavari Mahila Samiti working for the cause of sex workers have expressed concerns about the proposed amendments in the Immoral Trafficking Prevention Act that is going to be presented by the Department of Women and Child Development to the Cabinet. The NGOs feel that the proposed changes would affect the lives of sex workers. =============================================================== 7. Family appeals for permission to end life (New Delhi) www.ndtv.com, August 31, 2007. http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20070023424 New Delhi: Family appeals for permission to end life Millions of dollars are poured into the AIDS campaign in India but it has failed to create a positive impression on minds. HIV - the three letters that have become synonymous with stigma over the years. Ironically, it is most politicised and talked about disease in recent times but the shrill awareness campaigns have failed to break through barriers. Patients are reduced to living lives of untouchables. NDTV team traveled to Ramgarh village near Allahabad where a family is on the verge of giving up its battle, not against the disease but against society. The family has chosen death over a life of disgrace and appealed to the president for euthanasia. ''10-12 years ago, I had an accident and I was admitted into hospital. I had an operation for which I needed blood. I got infected from that blood. My wife also got infected. Before I knew that I was infected with HIV, I had 2 children who later died because of the disease,'' said Vijay Shanker Pandey, an HIV patient. ''People in the village started discriminating against us. They neglected us. They said that no one should talk to us or eat with us because even they would get HIV. People in the village threw us out and now we have taken shelter behind a temple, which is where we live,'' added Pandey. India has 2.5 million people living with HIV. ''We don't see light at the end of the tunnel. There is no hope from any quarter. I am tired of the physical torture, the disease and unemployment, which is why I have appealed to the President for euthanasia. We want the President to grant the entire family mercy killing. Is better to die than live this disgraceful life,'' Pandey added. =============================================================== 8. 300 take part in HIV/AIDS awareness rally (Lucknow) The Indian Express, September 1, 2007. http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=253952 Lucknow: 300 take part in HIV/AIDS awareness rally An awareness rally by Indian Network of Positive People, held in the state capital on Friday afternoon, was an ideal way of showing off the welfare face of the State Government and how the district administration perceives HIV-positive people. Most political and non-political rallies are allowed to pass through the main Hazratganj market, to cover the distance between Shaheed Smarak and Patel Park. But in this case, the marchers a large number of whom were HIV-positive, were asked to take the extended route covering Lal Bagh crossing and Hariom temple. Some of the marchers, unable to cover this distance, had to take rickshaws. Amitabh Awasthi, president of the Lucknow Network of Positive People, said, We were given a difficult route for the rally. In spite of that, we managed to create some awareness among the people in regard to the rights of the HIV-positive people. This was the first time that such a rally has been organised in the state, where over 300 people associated with People Living With HIV/AIDS Act (PLWHA) and NGOs came together from all over the country. The rally tried to create awareness about the long-pending HIV/ AIDS bill. =============================================================== 9. Nagaland plans all-faith talks (Kohima) The Telegraph India, September 1, 2007. http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070901/asp/northeast/story_8262084.asp Kohima: Nagaland plans all-faith talks Determined to eradicate AIDS from Nagaland, Naga Church leaders and NGOs are holding talks on a roadmap for an integrated approach to proper care of HIV/AIDS-affected people. Churches will also hold inter-faith dialogue to carry out a follow-up programme. The prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS in Nagaland is 1.63 per cent. The Development Association of Nagaland of the Catholic Church and the Nagaland Development Organisation of the Baptist Church have decided to initiate dialogue with members of other faiths. According to them, AIDS claims more lives than any other disease in the world and a concerted effort is needed to save the people of Nagaland from the incurable disease. The Church, being the dominant organisation in Nagaland, could play a major role in helping HIV-affected people live with dignity. The chairman of the Joint Christian Forum, Rev. L. Bizo, said the Church had remained silent for long on issues like militancy and spread of HIV/AIDS that block the states development.He called for more inter-church involvement to spread awareness. Quoting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Fr James Poonthurithil said: The best vaccine against HIV/AIDS is knowledge and awareness. Nearly 6,000 AIDS patients die everyday, of which 30 per cent are in the age group of 15 to 30. Rev. Saji K. advocated the need for cooperation between the government, churches, NGOs, civil society, all Christian denominations and other faiths. Deputy state representative of Catholic Relief Services Guwahati, Rollan Lotha, said religious leaders should be provided training on anti-AIDS programmes. It should highlight issues like poverty and gender bias and include people living with HIV/AIDS, he said. Vincent Belho, a senior official of the Nagaland branch of Family Association of India, said many NGOs operate to get funds while most of the HIV/AIDS counselling and information centres remain defunct in districts other than Kohima. He alleged lack of transparency and accountability in utilisation of funds sanctioned for anti-AIDS programmes and did not rule out embezzlement of funds. The state government has set up a joint inquiry committee, headed by Congress MLA Takamasa Ao, to probe into alleged misuse of funds. The report will be tabled in the Assembly. =============================================================== 10. Indian officials on edge over Burma's HIV/AIDS information black-hole (New Delhi) www.mizzima.com, September 1 , 2007. http://www.mizzima.com/MizzimaNews/News/2007/Aug/96-Aug-2007.html New Delhi: Indian officials on edge over Burma's HIV/AIDS information black-hole The Burmese military junta's secrecy over HIV/AIDS infection in the country has Indian officials tearing their hair. With the junta's administration concealing facts on the disease programmes to control the spread of the endemic is being seriously jeopardized. The District Chairman and other senior officials based in Tamu, a western Burma border township have flatly denied the existence of drug users and sex workers on their soil when Indian officials sought cooperation to fight cross-border HIV/AIDS. "When we approached them regarding the steps taken by their government to contain the disease, they (Burmese officials) said they did not have any intravenous drug users (IDUs) or commercial sex workers (CSWs)," said Dr T R Kom, project the Director of Manipur State AIDS control Society. Burmese officials are hiding facts and figures regarding people affected and infected by HIV/AIDS, he added. A day long seminar "Role of media intervention in preventing HIV/AIDS and promoting awareness" was held on Thursday in the northeastern Indian border state Manipur. It was sponsored by the American Center, Kolkata. "Hearing such responses is very disappointing when we want to focus more on prevention and other HIV/AIDS intervention programmes across the border," Dr T R Kom said. India's Non-Governmental Organizations have been distributing syringes, condoms and medicines 'free of cost' to many IDUs and CSWs from Burma coming to Moreh, opposite Tamu on the Indo-Burma border. More than 38 million people are living with HIV/AIDS around the world and the UN estimates that without preventive measures, 45 million new cases could occur by 2010. The visiting American Director Douglas referred to a congressional report which predicts that by 2011; more than 25 million children could be orphaned because of the HIV virus. =============================================================== 11. AID FROM UK (New Delhi) www.pib.nic.in ,India, September 2, 2007. http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=30758 New Delhi: AID FROM UK The UK Government has announced a new aid package of Rs. 2,000 crore for India over the next five years, which would be used mainly for improving the country's health programmes and access of the poor to healthcare. The details of the project are as follows: - (i) Andhra Pradesh Health Sector Reform Programme The project cost is ? 40 million/Rs. 320 crore (?38 million for the budget support of Andhra Pradesh Health Sector Reform Programme and ?2 million for Technical cooperation). The grant will start from the date of signing of MoU and will end on 30th June, 2010. (ii) Orissa Health Sector Plan The DFID support will be for ?50 million/Rs 400 crore (?47.50 million for the direct budget support for the implementation of Orissa Health Sector Plan and ?2.5 million for Technical cooperation). The project has to be approved and MoU to be signed. It will commence only thereafter. (iii) Madhya Pradesh Health Sector Reform Programme The project cost is ?60 million/Rs 480 crore (?56 million for the budget support of Madhya Pradesh Health Sector Reform Programme and ?4 million for Technical cooperation). The project has to be approved and MoU to be signed. It will commence only thereafter. (iv) National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) 3 The NACP 3 is pooled by the DFID and World Bank in order to achieve two strategic objectives (a) Achieving behaviour change by scaling up programmes to prevent new infections in high risk groups and the general population; and (b) increased care support and treatment of people living with HIV. DFID funds of ?102 million/Rs 816 crore will be pooled with the World Bank, out of which, ?7 million will be for technical assistance. This includes ?5 million for contracting a technical resource to support the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) to deliver NACP 3 and the remaining ?2 million will be channeled to support the first UN Joint Support Plan for HIV/AIDS in India. . A number of British companies that visited India as part of the Healthcare Mission in January 2007 have eiher signed joint ventures with Indian companies or are pursuing discussions with potential Indian partners. . Those that have signed joint venture include: ? The Health Protection Agency UK, which has signed a royalty-bearing license with the Serum Institute of India to develop a pentavalent vaccine for India and developing countries for bacterial meningococcal disease; ? Practical Business Solutions, which has signed an MoU with ZWA Technology in Mumbai to deliver an emergency medical services programme in India; and ? The UK Royal College of Physicians, which has delivered a pilot course to a private sector hospital in Kerala. British companies that are pursuing discussion with their Indian counterparts include the University of York, Eschmann Holdings, Tenscare and Smiths Medical International. This information was given by the Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss in a reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha. =============================================================== Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in the above articles are those of the respective newspapers, not those of SAATHII.