HIV Treatment Access Improved Worldwide

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND -- Decreasing HIV drug prices have made it easier for people in poor countries to receive HIV treatment, but the United Nations' long-term goal of universal coverage by 2010 is still far off. This is the conclusion in WHO's annual progress report released Tuesday.

Currently about 2 million people in low and middle-income countries are receiving anti-retroviral drugs. Even though this is a 54 percent increase over last year, only about 1 in 4 receives the drugs they need, according to the report.

Head of WHO's HIV treatment department, Dr. Charlie Gilks, told reporters Tuesday, "The encouraging progress that was made ... has been sustained."

Gilks told reporters the main reason for the success is the significant drop in the cost of drugs. Increased competition from generic drugs have forced the pharmaceutical companies to lower the price of their drugs.

Government agencies have also been increasingly involved in negotiating lower drug prices and in providing funding for treatment programs.

"We have every reason to believe that this success will continue," Dr. Gilks said.