BMJ 2007;334:345 (17 February), doi:10.1136/bmj.39113.539595.94
Feature
Head to head
Are we spending too much on HIV?
Paul de Lay, director, evaluation department, Robert Greener, economics adviser, Jose Antonio Izazola, senior adviser, resource and finance analysis
UNAIDS, 20 Avenue Appia, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland
Correspondence to: P de Lay communications@unaids.org
Billions of pounds are being spent on the fight against AIDS in developing countries. Roger England believes that much of the money could be better used elsewhere, whereas Paul de Lay and colleagues argue that current spending is not enough
| The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below. |
AIDS is widely acknowledged as a public health crisis and is now one of the make or break forces of this century, as measured by both its actual effect and potential threat to the survival and wellbeing of people worldwide.1 In 2005, the UN Human Development Report concluded that "the AIDS pandemic has inflicted the single greatest reversal in human development."2 In that year, AIDS caused a fifth of deaths globally in people aged 15-49 years. Within the next five years, every seventh child in the worst affected sub-Saharan countries will be an orphan, largely because of AIDS. By 2010, an estimated 9 million people will need antiretroviral treatment.3
Unmet need
Much has been done to raise awareness and resources. However, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) estimates that resources currently pledged are only half what is needed for a comprehensive response. In 2006, $9bn (£4.6bn; 
7bn) was
Multisectoral response
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This article has been cited by other articles:
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Lwanda, J.
(2007). HIV funding: debate misses the point. BMJ
334: 439-439
[Full text] -
McIlwain, J. C
(2007). It's only numbers. BMJ
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Rapid Responses:
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- More HIV/AIDS prevention equals net financial savings
- Kenneth A Hoekstra, PhD
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