The provision of low cost anti-retroviral drugs is critical to fighting the global epidemic. HIV medication in itself however is not enough. The investment in basic health care, and supporting the development of robust delivery mechanisms for HIV treatment programmes is also essential.
Investment is also needed in the development of new prevention technologies such as microbicides. In Sub-Saharan Africa almost 60% of those living with HIV are women. Technologies such as microbicides give women a greater degree of control compared with condoms.
Recent research from Save the Children found that the NHS was recruiting huge numbers of doctors and nurses from the developing world thus further destabilising the response to HIV and AIDS in those countries. We cannot resolve our own health service resourcing problems by poaching resources from countries with far greater needs.
Within the UK, the Public Health White Paper, published in November, advocates 48-hour maximum waiting times in GUM clinics. Providing fast and efficient treatment and care for HIV and STIs is critical. Greater investment is also needed in community-based HIV prevention and support services. Over the past few years the ring-fencing of HIV prevention funding has ended, and ring-fenced AIDS Support Grants are likely to end within the next 2 years. Long before there was any government response to the HIV in the UK, organisations such as DHIVERSE were founded by the communities most affected by HIV. It is critical to ensure that the end of ring-fenced funding does not lead to cuts for non-clinical services such as prevention work and social care services. Investment in diagnosis and treatment needs to be matched by investment in prevention and social care.