WHO for earlier treatment of HIV-infected people

Millions of people infected with HIV can get free medicines

30.06.2013

In the future, more than nine million more HIV-infected people can get free access to medicines. The World Health Organization (WHO) has renewed its guidelines so that treatment for HIV infection can start much earlier.

Over nine million more patients
At the launch of the International AIDS Society (IAS) Congress in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur, the World Health Organization announced new guidelines. Health services around the world follow their recommendations. The changes will provide more than nine million more HIV-infected patients with free access to medicines. The WHO is renewing its guidelines, which means that treatment for patients can start much earlier. A statement stated that after weighing the efficacy of the drugs, the benefits to the immune system, and possible side effects, the organization decided that it would be preferable to the recommended treatment schedule.

Aids-free generation as a goal
The new guidelines will allow patients to receive HIV medication in the future when the number of T helper cells is below 500 per microliter of blood. So far, the guideline value was 350. This value indicates how strong or weakened the immune system is. In the future, all HIV-infected children under the age of five, pregnant women, nursing mothers and persons whose partners are not infected, regardless of their blood picture, should also receive medication. A single pill containing a combination of active ingredients is currently the best remedy. Unicef ​​Children's Director Anthony Lake said: „This will allow us to reach the goal of an AIDS-free generation faster.“

Around 34 million worldwide with the HI virus
According to WHO data, around 34 million people were living with the HIV virus in 2011, nearly 70 percent of them living in sub-Saharan Africa. So far, 16.7 million patients worldwide have been advised to receive the free treatment with the drug cocktail, which, while it does not cure the disease, can reduce the consequences. However, it is estimated that about seven million people would not be reached. The new rules would add 9.2 million people infected with HIV to low-to-middle-income countries, said WHO spokesman Glenn Thomas. Thus, there are now a total of 26 million people who would need to receive treatment.

So far no cure of HIV and AIDS possible
Thirty years ago, the French researchers Luc Montagnier and Françoise Barré-Sinouss first described the HI virus, which, if untreated, causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (Aids). HIV is transmitted through contact with the body fluids blood, semen, vaginal secretions, breast milk and cerebrospinal fluid. Infection with HIV is therefore much more severe than, for example, influenza viruses, where transmission via droplet infection is possible. Nevertheless, the spread of immunodeficiency has developed into a pandemic since the 1980s, in which about 37 million have died to this day.

Prevent three million deaths
The WHO Director-General Margaret Chan expressed the hope that the new measures would be able to reduce the immunodeficiency disorder: „These guidelines are another leap forward in the direction of ever higher goals and ever greater success. "WHO said: „Treating people with HIV earlier can make them healthier and reduce the amount of virus in the bloodstream, which reduces the risk of transmission to someone else. "By 2025, three million deaths and 3.5 million new infections could be prevented, the WHO said on Sunday with.

Germans doubt the benefits
The benefits of the innovations doubt German experts. They would not benefit the majority of the infected. According to German AIDS experts, there is no evidence that infected persons would benefit from a previous therapy start. „It is unclear what consequences an earlier start of treatment has“, Aids expert Ulrich Marcus from the Robert Koch Institute in Berlin. „You may have to live longer with side effects.“ Such as possibly with disorders of kidney function, bone metabolism and lipid metabolism. „We would not recommend it to anyone without pointing out that the individual benefit has not been proven.“ Armin Schafberger, spokesman for the German AIDS Aid, referred to the fact that the majority of infected people are not diagnosed until the number of helper cells is below 350. „With such a guideline, the gap between claim and reality diverges further.“

Rich countries in duty
However, much more money is needed to expand the drug program. „It does not come for nothing, "said WHO director of the HIV department, Gottfried Hirnschall, saying Schafberger said there was no promise for extra money, and the organization „Doctors Without Borders“ sees rich donor countries in duty: „Germany, too, has to significantly increase its commitments and make available at least 400 million euros a year to fight HIV / AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.“ (Ad)