AEGiS-WSJ: WHO Is Likely to Miss Its AIDS-Program Goal

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2005. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

WHO Is Likely to Miss Its AIDS-Program Goal

Wall Street Journal - June 30, 2005
Gautam Naik, gautam.naik@wsj.com

LONDON - The World Health Organization acknowledged that it is unlikely to meet its goal of providing life-saving drugs to three million AIDS patients in poorer countries by year end, a sign of how difficult it is to stem the death toll of the disease.

In a report released yesterday, the United Nations health agency said about one million people in poorer countries receive antiviral drugs, compared with a target of 1.6 million. Half of the patients on treatment are in sub-Saharan Africa, the region hardest hit by HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

"It is disappointing because we're not saving as many lives as we can," said Jim Yong Kim, director of the WHO department of HIV/AIDS, in an interview. He declined to provide a new estimate of patients expected to be on antiviral therapy by year's end.

The original goal, known as "3 by 5" and announced at the end of 2003, had aimed to provide antiviral drugs to three million AIDS patients in low- and middle-income countries by the end of 2005. The global push is led by the WHO and the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS, also known as UNAIDS. Endorsed by all 192 member states of the WHO, the plan is seen as a vital step toward the bigger ambition of providing antivirals to every HIV patient.

Today, about 6.5 million people urgently require the medicines but don't have them. More than 40 million people world-wide are infected with the virus. A wider availability of AIDS drugs is also crucial to the long-term goal of reducing the rate of new infections, as patients are more likely to get voluntarily tested if they have access to treatment.

The WHO's effort has fallen short of its expectations partly because it initially focused on backing AIDS programs run by small nongovernmental organizations with limited scope in providing antiviral medicines. The agency says it also underestimated the logistics of getting the drugs from manufacturers to patients. "Many poorer countries couldn't manage" the complexities of procurement and supply, said Dr. Kim.

Despite falling short of its target, the WHO plan has had one key beneficial effect: It has persuaded many previously reluctant countries to pledge greater resources to fight AIDS, the WHO said. In sub-Saharan Africa, 500,000 patients get antiviral therapy, nearly double the number six months ago, the WHO added. In Asia, 155,000 people receive the drugs, triple the number from a year ago.

050630
WJ050609

AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Boehringer Ingelheim, Bridgestone/Firestone Charitable Trust, Elton John AIDS Foundation UK, the National Library of Medicine, AIDS Walk of Orange County, and donations from users like you.

Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2005. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.

AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.

Copyright ©1980, 2005. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .