WHO OFFICIAL EMPHASIZES NEED FOR MORE HIV DRUGS, FUNDING

On the closing day of the International AIDS Conference in Toronto, Anders Nordstrm, acting director general of the World Health Organization (WHO), gave a speech in which he said that that "money, medicines and a motivated, skilled workforce" are key to delivering universal access to HIV drugs.

He noted that "3 by 5" -- the WHO and United Nations initiative to expand access to antiretroviral treatment to 3 million people in low- and middle-income countries by the end of 2005 -- has influenced the HIV/AIDS landscape.

He stressed that drug pricing is still an issue in ensuring that both first- and second-line treatments are affordable. "There is growing momentum for innovation, research and addressing intellectual property issues to ensure maximum access to new products that save lives.

"We need ideas to turn into new drugs and diagnostics that strengthen our ability to safely treat infants and children as well as adults. We also need a vaccine and a microbicide."

Nordstrm underscored that the funds available for HIV/AIDS globally are growing, but so were the needs. "Worldwide, resources for HIV/AIDS have increased to over $8 billion a year. But that is still not enough. The estimated need in low- and middle-income countries is $15 billion this year, and that will grow to $22 billion in 2008."