Tag: AIDS

Conservatives opposed to using EU development aid to finance family planning services in poor nations have succeeded in recent years in reducing support for reproductive health services in poor nations, say health advocates who are now bracing for further cuts.

The European Commission is failing to pay its "fair share" in funding research into the main poverty-related killers HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, according to health NGOs.

Health experts and stakeholders at the 'HIV in Europe 2007' conference have called on EU states to step up early diagnosis in a drive to improve the lives of people living with HIV and reduce transmission of the disease.

The EU should be more concerned about the fast-growing HIV/AIDS epidemic in eastern Europe, says the executive director of the International HIV/AIDS Alliance, who also warns about 'its very dangerous combination' with drug-resistant tuberculosis in those countries.

The EU-27 health ministers have signalled their intention to negotiate with the pharmaceutical industry on access to anti-retroviral treatments at accessible prices, highlighting the need for solidarity with poorer nations.

"As we are currently unable to heal AIDS, we have to focus our efforts on preventing infection," argued German Health Minister Ulla Schmidt at a ministerial conference on HIV/AIDS.

The number of reported HIV cases in member states has doubled since 1998 and half of the new cases affect people aged 15-25. A Commission campaign aims to remind young people that HIV/AIDS is still prevalent.

The Commission is concerned that prevention of HIV/AIDS has become less of a focus and is emphasising the importance of public private partnerships to tackle the disease.

A 2004 survey of business executives reveals that around three-quarters of companies have no HIV/AIDS policy. Only in countries where HIV prevalence hits the 20% mark do the majority of companies establish policies.

The number of people living with HIV has reached 39.4 million people worldwide - with high increases reported from EU's neighbouring Russia and Ukraine, according to an annual AIDS report.

The Dutch Presidency sends representatives from the new Member States to visit development projects in Uganda and Vietnam.

A two-day conference (23-24 February) hosted by the Irish Presidency is focussing on the growing crisis in Eastern Europe and central Asia where the HIV/AIDS epidemic is the fastest growing worldwide.

Having missed the original deadline of 31 December 2002, WTO members reached a definitive agreement on 30 August on this issue, giving momentum to the Cancún talks.

On 27 August, the US reached an agreement with Brazil, India, South Africa and Kenya, which now needs approval from the other 141 countries in the WTO.

On 26 May, the Council adopted a Regulation, which aims at encouraging the pharmaceutical industry in the EU to offer the lowest possible prices to developing countries. In exchange, it puts into place safeguards to ensure cheap medicines do not find their way back onto the EU market, undermining profits.

The Commission has provided a forum for stakeholders to gather views on how access to essential medicines could be improved in developing countries, prior to the G8 Summit in Evian in June.

The WTO trade and agriculture ministers' meeting on 14-16 February resulted in some progress on access to affordable medicines and an animated exchange of views on agricultural modalities.

On 10 February trade negotiators postponed once again the conclusion of the deal on cheap drugs for developing countries. The deadline is now being extended for the second time upon US request, since the expiry of the 2002 closing date.

The European Parliament has adopted a position on a proposed new regulation on aid to fight poverty diseases, demanding increased funding and a coordinated approach between co-operation, research and health policies.

Only days remain before the deadline set by the Doha Development Agenda to find a solution to the issue of access to essential medicines for poor countries. Meetings conducted during the week of 25 November on intellectual property rights yielded no result.

At a Forum Europe Conference in Brussels, the pharmaceutical industry discussed with NGOs and EU decision makers what the Union can do to improve access to health care in the developing countries.