This article by Richard Hurley contained a slight inaccuracy in the fourth paragraph (BMJ 2010;341:c3538, doi:10.1136/bmj.c3538). The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria did not award a grant to the Ukrainian government in 2004 but rather in 2002 (“round 1” of funding). However, the government’s slow progress in responding to HIV/AIDS in Ukraine led to an investigation by the fund and the cancellation of the grant in late January 2004. In March 2004 the fund awarded a grant to the International HIV/AIDS Alliance for completion of round 1.