Health GAP Press Statement
www.globaltreatmentaccess.org | www.healthgap.org

Senate Must Act to Fund Promised $3 Billion -- with at least $1 billion for the Global Fund

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN), with a delegation of five Republican Senators, returned Friday from southern Africa lacking the necessary commitment to fully fund the fight against global AIDS. The trip to Africa is the second by U.S. decision-makers in less than two months. Yet, as with President Bush's journey in July, all are coming back with rhetorical expressions of concern but with empty hands and excuses for inaction.

Both the Bush Administration and U.S. Congress have laid out plans for $15 billion to be spent on AIDS treatment and prevention over five years, yet as a major decision approaches in the Senate next week, their message is that a full $3 billion for FY 2004 cannot be effectively spent. Citing reasons like lack of "infrastructure" and lack of "absorptive capacity," many in the U.S. government appear set to spend only $2 billion, thereby denying life-saving medicines to Africans and others living with HIV/AIDS.

"Once again, 'lack of infrastructure' is being used as an excuse not to put money where it's desperately needed," said Brook Baker with AIDS treatment activist group Health GAP. "[USAID Administrator] Andrew Natsios claimed over a year ago that AIDS treatment would be impossible in developing nations due to 'poor infrastructure' and now, in no less-deadly fashion, Frist is using the same excuse to obstruct adequate funding at year later."

Trumpeting the Bush Administration's claim that there is insufficient capacity to absorb more than $2 billion for 2004 (only $500 million more than 2003), Frist and others perpetuate serious misinformation, and ironically ignore evidence of renewed commitment and expanded capacity that should have been apparent during their African journey.

According to UNAIDS, there is underutilized capacity to deliver antiretroviral (ARV) therapy in developing countries such that an additional 500,000 people could be on treatment tomorrow using capacity that existed as long ago as 2001. Current UNAIDS estimates of capacity are even higher, suggesting that nearly 2 million people in developing countries could be on lifesaving ARVs if there were an adequate commitment of resources, rather than the mere 300,000 currently receiving such treatment.

Another fact overlooked by decision-makers is that the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria is nearly bankrupt, only a couple of years after its inception, due to a lack of funding from wealthy countries such as the U.S. The Global Fund, currently chaired by Secretary of Health Tommy Thompson, is said by experts to be the best proven mechanism for fighting AIDS, yet will be unable to fully fund grants in October of this year for its third round of proposals from disease-ravaged countries. This despite the fact that the first two rounds of funding will speed AIDS treatment to 491,000 over the next five years.

As early as this week, the U.S. Senate will vote on spending for global AIDS in the Labor, Health and Human Services budget. In order to supplement the meager investment planned so far, Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) is planning to introduce an amendment that would fund the $3 billion Congress authorized for 2004, including $1 billion for the Global Fund. As it stands, the Senate is poised to appropriate less than $2 billion with at most $200 million going to the Global Fund--$150 million less than last year's appropriation.

"It is incomprehensible that after going to some of the worst-hit countries by AIDS, the so-called leadership of our country cannot muster up the dollars necessary to save millions of lives," said Kris Hermes of Health GAP. "Arguments about 'absorptive capacity' and 'infrastructure' show a willful intent to deceive by the U.S government" continued Hermes. "Sure there should be more investment in infrastructure now so that more people can be treated in the future. But, we could also buy and deliver affordable generic medicines today that would reverse the tide of death in Africa. This promise of resources should be front-loaded not back-loaded. The Senate must act on behalf of people living with HIV/AIDS and appropriate at least $3 billion in 2004 with a minimum of $1 billion for the Global Fund."

Contact: Kris Hermes 504-945-9716

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