Re: Implications Of The New HIV Estimate For India

[Guest guest]

Dear Moderator,

Re: /message/8170

I agree with Dr Dandona’s suggestion for a more scientific approach for

targetting HIV prevention efforts on most at risk populations and for estimating

new infection rates.

But,on the issue of treatment,I can’t quite see how the new numbers will bring

down the cost of treatment.

At present the coverage of treatment under the national programme has just

reached 100,000.This is against the need which is estimated as 20% of the

infected population ie 500,000 ( 20% of 2.5 million ).Even the target for

treatment under NACP 3 is projected as 300,000 cases by 2011 which still falls

short of the Universal Access target.

Government will therefore have to continue spending the projected amount under

NACP 3 on treatment, even with the revised estimates of infection.

Thanks,

Prasada Rao

Director RST UNAIDS,

Asia and the Pacific,Bangkok.

e-mail: <raojvrp@...>

[Guest guest]

Dear Moderator,

Re: /message/8181

I would like to thank Mr. Prasada Rao for his remarks on our commentary in The

Lancet on the implications of the new HIV estimate for India.

Regarding the resources needed for HIV treatment, we support universal access to

treatment. The point that we have made in our commentary is that with the total

HIV burden less than half of what was estimated earlier, for optimal treatment

coverage (universal access) the resources needed will be less than what would

have been estimated earlier with the larger HIV burden estimate for India.

Kind regards,

Lalit Dandona

--------------------------------

Professor Lalit Dandona

Chair of International Public Health

School of Public Health and Institute for International Health

University of Sydney, Room 306, Ford Building A27

Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia

Tel: +61 2 9351 4375 (School), +61 2 9993 4536

Email: LDandona@...,

www.health.usyd.edu.au, www.thegeorgeinstitute.org