Kathmandu, April 8 -- In a planning meeting held a few days ago, officials from the National Centre for AIDS and STD Control complained that the budget ceiling for the upcoming fiscal year is too low to continue even basic services, including antiretroviral treatment and HIV testing programmes.

They also warned that they would have to trim the programmes in line with the allocated budget, and that the relevant agencies would be responsible for any negative outcomes.

"They said the budget cut will affect most services, and they also warned that the agencies concerned would be responsible if infected people are deprived of basic services and medications," an official at the Department of Health Services, who also attended the planning mee...