Treatment and Care Subcommittee Resolution #1:
Whereas the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) is the primary source of Public Health Service (PHS) recommended antiretroviral therapies for 136,000+ uninsured or under-insured Americans living with HIV/AIDS each year1 and
Whereas highly active antiretroviral therapy for HIV-infection has reduced the death rate from AIDS by 72% since 1995 and are cost effective overall, and
Whereas recent scientific studies have found that people living with HIV/AIDS receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy have a 60% reduction in infectivity to partners, making treatment an important tool for prevention, and
Whereas in May of 2004, 11 ADAPs had waiting lists representing 1,629 people, and 8 ADAPs have put cost containment measures in place, and 10 ADAPs are anticipating instituting cost-containment measures including closed enrollment to new clients and reduced formularies1, and
Whereas any long-term solution to the ADAP crisis cannot be instituted until the Ryan White CARE Act is reauthorized in 2005, a short term resolution to the problem facing Americans awaiting access to life-sustaining drugs must be addressed immediately, and
Whereas any changes to the present formula distribution of federal earmark ADAP funds will not go into effect until FY07,
Whereas the President has recognized the importance of eliminating the ADAP waiting list and recently authorized the expenditure of $20 million to address this issue,
BE IT RESOLVED THAT PACHA thanks President Bush for his leadership to address the ongoing ADAP crisis and for making the elimination of waiting lists a top priority in his AIDS agenda, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT these funds are targeted to those areas demonstrating the greatest need and are spent expeditiously to maximize their benefit to the community, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the President and Secretary continue to ensure the availability of funds for HIV/AIDS medications until a long-term solution is enacted.
- The ADAP Watch, June 2004; National Association of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD)
UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.
International Subcommittee Resolution #1:
Whereas the Asian AIDS epidemic, with more than ten million cases, is second only to the Sub-Saharan epidemic, is expanding faster, and is expected to overtake the Sub-Saharan epidemic by 2010.
Whereas the XVth International AIDS Conference in Bangkok this July will focus international attention of the hitherto neglected Asian epidemic.
Whereas in Asia, as in Africa, the AIDS epidemic, if unchecked, threatens to destabilize whole countries and is currently a factor in destabilizing Myanmar, and whereas the AIDS destabilization threat to Asia is as real as it is to Africa, the major difference being the timeframe.
Whereas the worldwide economic and geopolitical consequences of destabilization in China, India, and Southeast Asia would be grave.
Whereas Asia, while undergoing rapid economic advances, is politically less stable and its healthcare infrastructure is less well developed than in Europe and North America.
Whereas many Asian countries are recognizing the implications and extent of their AIDS epidemics and want to act.
Whereas these countries often have the basic economic resources to provide ARV treatment but lack the expertise to quickly implement AIDS treatment and prevention programs.
Whereas the US has wide experience and expertise in implementing AIDS treatment and prevention programs.
Whereas there is a window of opportunity in both India and China to block the bridging of HIV infections from high risk groups to the general population.
Whereas appropriate preventive interventions can have significant impact on national HIV prevalence prior to such bridging.
Be it therefore resolved that PACHA recommends to the President that HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment be on the agenda at all appropriate bilateral discussions with these two countries, and that discussions be initiated in the near future with India and China on establishing cost sharing programs to facilitate access to American expertise in implementing AIDS prevention and treatment.
UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.
