New HIV drug rules ‘challenge’ for poorest countries

New guidelines, advising that people be given HIV drugs earlier and to breastfeeding mothers with the virus, will be “an enormous challenge” to the international community, says a British minister.The World Health Organization (WHO) says its updated advice is based on the latest information available and will cut infection rates and save lives.But the new guidelines will mean many more people needing treatment, which will cost more money and time and will "significantly increase the demand for treatment,” said International Development Minister Mike Foster.

The WHO wants people to be given anti-retroviral therapy before their immune system strength falls below 350 cells per cubic millimetre of blood, regardless of whether they show symptoms. It also wants to see the phasing out of the drug Stavudine, which is widely used in developing countries because of its low cost and widespread availability. The organisation now recommends Zidovudine or Tenofovir instead which do not have the same long-term and irreversible side effects.

It also wants the drug Stavudine, widely used in developing countries because of its low cost and widespread availability, to be phased out in favour of Zidovudine or Tenofovir, which do not have the same long-term and irreversible side effects. And for the first time, it is calling for breastfeeding mothers, or their babies, to be given the drugs to prevent transmission of the disease.

"The Department for International Development is committed to increasing access to effective and affordable HIV treatments," said Mr Foster. "That is why UK aid supports the cheaper manufacturing of current treatments, and the Unitaid [the UN body on drugs for killer diseases] patent pool to help develop new, effective and affordable HIV treatments, particularly for children and for people living in developing countries."

Daisy Mafubelu, WHO's assistant director general for family and community health, said: "In the new recommendations, we are sending a clear message that breastfeeding is a good option for every baby, even those with HIV-positive mothers, when they have access to anti-retrovirals." Lower prices and more testing have led to a marked rise in the number of people in the poorest parts of the world receiving treatment for HIV.

The number of people on anti-retroviral had risen by a million by the end of 2008, a 36% increase from the previous year, the WHO said. Still, however, less than half of those needing treatment, currently receive it. Since the availability of effective HIV drugs in 1996, some 2.9 million lives have been saved The WHO estimates. About 33.4 million people are living with HIV/Aids.