Long Beach : Free AIDS Drug to Be Cut
Free distribution of a drug used to treat AIDS patients will be cut off by September because money is running out.
On Tuesday, the Long Beach City Council asked its staff to review whether any more state money is available to continue dispensing Azidothymidine, known as AZT.
At the same time, the council authorized an agreement with a pharmacy to distribute another $55,781 worth of the medicine. The money is the last in a state program that originally doled out $7.6 million to various jurisdictions throughout the state, including the Long Beach Health Department, according to Bob Salcido, the city’s epidemiologist.
Since May, 68 AIDS victims--including many low-income residents--have been receiving the expensive drug for free, Salcido said. As of June 30, there were 450 reported cases of AIDS in Long Beach, he said.
“The public is going to have to get involved and ask the Legislature for more money,” Salcido said.
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