AEGiS-Glasgow [PL4.3] Treatment access and other challenges for clinicians in Eastern Europe

Seventh International Congress on Drug Therapy in HIV Infection

Glasgow, UK - 14-17 November 2004

[PL4.3] Treatment access and other challenges for clinicians in Eastern Europe

Int Cong Drug Therapy HIV 2004 Nov 14-18;7:Abstract No. PL4.3

Lars Kallings
UN Secretary General's Special Envoy on AIDS to Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Djursholm, Sweden

Russian Federation and other countries in Eastern Europe continues to have one of the fastest growing HIV epidemics in the world, the actual number of individuals living with HIV/AIDS in Russia alone is estimated to be from 600.000 to 1 million and in the whole region more than 1.5 million. There are a rapidly increasing number of cases in need of treatment in health systems ill-equipped to provide medical care. The estimated number of patients in need of therapy by the end of 2003 was about 60,000 in Russia, increasing to 140,000 by the end of 2005. There are corresponding situations in Ukraine, Belarus and Moldavia.

The Central Asian Republics are also experiencing a rapid increase of HIV infections.

In the past, only few persons in the Region have received ART but recently some governments have committed themselves to provide universal access to ART and to participate in the 3 by 5 Initiative onScaling-Up Access to ART.Russia and Ukraine have received considerable sums from the Global Fund to Fight Tb, AIDS and Malaria in order to support ART. The most recent grant in 2004 by the Fund to Russia was $35 million five year grant to treat Tb and HIV/AIDS. About 5,000 HIV patients are expected to receive ART the first year and up to 75,000 within five years. In total, Russia has received $220 million from the Fund plus World Bank loan for prevention, treatment and care.

The costs for recommended three-drug treatment are exceedingly high in the Region, up to $15,000 per year. There is now a strategy to lower the costs to $ 500-1,000 per year.

Discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS is a severe obstacle to increasing access to voluntary testing, councelling and treatment.

SESSION 4: RESOURCE-POOR SETTINGS [IAS SESSION]

2004-11-14
PL4.3

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