Microbiology
Resistance to ARVS rising among patients
IPN Opinion article
The first of December was the 20th World AIDS Day but the celebration of progress hides a time-bomb created by that very increase in the supply of drugs, because of the emphasis on quantity over quality: drug-resistance and viral mutation are growing fast and their treatment costs at least two or three times more than 'first-line' treatment.
A false threat of epidemics
IPN Opinion article
UNAIDS has at last admitted its world AIDS estimates were wildly inaccurate but it wanted yet more money at the biennial jamboree in Mexico (3-8 August). In an apparently unconnected development it is also looking for a new Director so this British health systems consultant has decided to throw his hat in the ring on a platform of closing down UNAIDS in order to allocate funds according to the real impact of diseases.
UN's Russian roulette for poor patients
IPN Opinion article
Sub-standard AIDS and malaria drugs can cause parasite resistance and clinical failure. Yet the Global Fund has been procuring such drugs for millions of low-income patients.
Myths behind AIDS might lead to billions in misspending
IPN Opinion article
Global and regional HIV rates have remained stable or have been decreasing during the past decade except in sub-Saharan Africa; HIV continues to be concentrated in populations with the highest levels of HIV risk behaviors; and HIV is incapable of epidemic spread in the vast majority of heterosexual populations. Let's face the data and put the money where the real problems really are.
Funding for sub-standard drugs
IPN Opinion article
Sub-standard AIDS and malaria drugs can cause parasite resistance and clinical failure. Yet the Global Fund has been procuring such drugs for millions of low-income patients.
"Romantic" AIDS cause diverts needed funds
IPN Opinion article
AIDS advocacy has taken money from diseases that kill more people and are easily cured: we need to redress the balance for the benefit of all poor countries and poor patients. Although average global prevalence is much lower, this imbalance applies even in South Africa and other African countries hard-hit by AIDS.
