UNAIDS HIV Drug Access Initiative: Providing Wider Access to HIV-related Drugs in Developing Countries, Pilot Phase

DRUG ACCESS INITIVE ACHEIVEMENTS TO DATE

In addition to providing direct treatment, the Drug Access Initiative has:
* Contributed to international and public acknowledgement of the problem of
access to HIV drugs and treatment. Initiative activities have lead to greater
recognition of the benefits of treatment for patients, economies, and
societies. The Initiative has helped to generate political will and
commitment at all levels.
* Helped to expand international commitment beyond education, social
support and palliative care.
* Helped to bring together the private sector, medical and social care
professions, NGOs, charities and international organizations in
complementary efforts to address HIV/AIDS in the developing world.
* Created commitment from leading manufacturers of HIV, OI and other
essential drugs, not only in the supply of drugs but also in training and
educational programmes.
* Demonstrated that a model can be constructed and successfully tested to
bring treatment to people with HIV in a professionally managed way; that
the treatment regime can be maintained under local management, and
can be progressively extended both within and beyond the scope of the
pilot programme.
* Demonstrated that such an Initiative can be operated under financial
disciplines that enable suppliers' commercial criteria to be met on a
continuing basis.
NEXT STEPS
Compiling Experiences
UNAIDS will produce best practice guidelines for regulated access to drugs
for STDs, Ols, palliative care and ARVs based on the pilot experience and
evaluation of the Drug Access Initiative. This blueprint will be available during
the first half of 2000 and will be published and disseminated through the
Internet.
UNAIDS will also publish social and economic data considered from the
perspectives of the public sector, insurance companies, employers,
households and extended families. The first data should be available for
publication during the international conference in Durban in June 2000.

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