Focus on HIV prevents us from curing a billion people, say scientists

[alp227]

More than a billion victims of some of the world's most pernicious ailments could be treated with drugs that have annual costs of less than 30p a person.

However, the plight of these people is being neglected because resources are being monopolised in developing countries by three major conditions – HIV, malaria and TB – even though these diseases infect a much smaller fraction of their populations.

This is the warning of experts who say an opportunity to rid the planet of some of its worst scourges – including sleeping sickness, elephantiasis and river blindness – is being missed because of distorted health policy goals.

"This is not the fault of pharmaceutical companies," said Professor David Molyneux of the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. "They have made available billions of doses of key drugs. Our problem is that we are not providing the impetus or the means for getting these drugs to disease sufferers.

Full story: http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/nov/07/hiv-focus-prevents-curing-people

[MrsBrady]

1. we should be doing both

I don't want to live in a world where TB is prevalent, either.

[Taverner]

2. Sounds like a Fundie with a chip on their shoulder eom

[radhika]

3. Basic Research into Immunity...

the kind that gives science a deeper overall understanding of our bodies and how they work, would help solve both types of conditions. The big diseases with huge profit potential, and illnesses that bedevil millions of poor people in the poorest places on earth.

But now, most basic research is funded (or coordinated with) Big Pharma with an eye to their product line.

[Jamastiene]

4. Well, they took enough time to make boner pills and breast implants.

AND they never complained about the time it took to do that.

I don't see why they feel they cannot work on curing more than one thing at the time. I do not see why they are singling out HIV to complain about.

[QC]

5. +1