U.S. Policies Blasted at AIDS Conference

As the International AIDS Conference in Bangkok wraps up tomorrow, the United States is facing sharp criticism for it's funding policies, the small size of its delegation at the conference, and a lack of action to make generic AIDS medications available.
Randall Tobias, head of President Bush's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief and former head of pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly, was disrupted by about 40 protesters during his speech yesterday.

Tobias" said, "Perhaps the most critical mistake we can make is to allow this pandemic to divide us."

Many conference participants criticized Bush's 15 billion dollar plan because it prioritizes abstinence-based AIDS prevention and only a small percentage of the money will go to the multilateral Global Fund to Fight AIDS.

The global conference has included extensive discussion of the so-called ABC prevention technique, which stands for "Abstain, Be Faithful, or Use a Condom," a method advocated by the Ugandan government and supported by the US. Critics say condoms should not be a last resort because women around the world often do not have the option of abstinence.

Two reports from UNAids released at the conference reveal that AIDS prevention programs had yet to have a significant impact on the spread of the virus. Only 7% of those with HIV who need drugs to stay alive over the next two years are getting them.

Generic AIDS drugs will be vital in closing the gap between infection and treatment. Doctors Without Borders presented data from projects in 21 developing countries at the conference showing that controversial fixed-dose generic drug combinations to treat AIDS works just as well as patented medications. The treatment combines three antiretroviral drugs into one pill that patients must take twice a day. Fewer pills to take increases compliance and generic drug production pushed the cost of these medications to $389 or less, a fraction of the cost of patented drugs.

The Bush administration says it will assist in providing generic drugs after the Food and Drug Administration approves those medications. This despite the fact that the same drugs have already passed muster with the World Health Organization.

And while this conference will likely serve as a benchmark for AIDS research and treatment, it's impact may be limited by the absence of many U.S. scientists who planned to attend but were blocked by the Administration for Health and Human Services. The U.S. sent about 230 scientists to the AIDS conference in Barcelona two years ago and this year sent only 50 AIDS researchers. Observers speculated that the move could be retribution from Secretary Tommy Thompson who was heckled by activists during his speech in Barcelona.

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