Countywide

San Diego County health officials have received a $458,000 federal grant to pay for drugs to treat low-income people diagnosed as having AIDS or AIDS-related complex, state and county health officials announced Wednesday.

The money will go to buy federally approved drugs for patients who do not qualify for Medi-Cal, other forms of insurance or local financial assistance, according to officials of the county Department of Health Services.

Dr. J. William Cox, the department’s director, said in a press release that details of the program have yet to be worked out. But he said doctors will probably refer patients, with their prescriptions, to the department’s eligibility screening unit.

Patients may also contact the unit independently, Cox said.

Currently AZT is the only drug approved for treating acquired immune deficiency syndrome and AIDS-related complex by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. County officials say the federal money will cover other drugs if and when they receive approval.