Antiretroviral Drugs for All? Obstacles to Access to HIV/AIDS Treatment

This report aims to help journalists to initiate debate around access to HIV treatment issues, and provides key questions that will enable them to focus on the realities of antiretroviral drug provision in their own communities. Case studies from Ethiopia, Haiti, India, Nepal and Zambia look at the availability of antiretroviral therapy, and illustrate the obstacles that need to be overcome to ensure universal access.

Excerpt from the Introduction
"In 2005 the Panos Global AIDS Programme commissioned studies from Ethiopia, Haiti, India, Nepal and Zambia on the extent to which antiretroviral therapy (ART) was available in these countries and the obstacles that needed to be overcome to ensure universal access. Research focused on the experience and needs of people living with HIV/AIDS.

These five countries provide a perspective through which access to ART across the developing world can be seen. In many nations, weak health infrastructures, the cost of patented drugs, stigma and conflicting messages about treatment options prevent men, women and children from receiving the drugs they need. It is evident that to achieve sustainable universal access to HIV/AIDS treatment, there is a need to step up efforts to reduce socio-economic vulnerabilities of individuals and countries.

The obstacles to universal access can be overcome with strong commitment from national leaders, with the involvement of people living with HIV/AIDS at every level of the response to the epidemic, and with the partnership of the donor community.

Journalists have a critical role to play in the response to HIV/AIDS. Concise, accurate reporting backed by in-depth analysis and commentary can stimulate the discussion and debate essential to identify the factors that restrict access to ART. This report provides the news media with the basic information to initiate that debate and with key questions that will enable them to focus on the realities of antiretroviral (ARV) drug provision in their own communities. The questions can be used as a tool to help monitor overnment and non-governmental organisation (NGO) activities and make them more accountable to people living with HIV/AIDS.

The report contains case studies for journalists to compare challenges and successes in their own countries. It provides key areas and questions for effective reporting on universal access to ART for people living with HIV/AIDS."