The UK is a founding member of UNITAID, a new global initiative whose purpose is to increase funding and reduce prices for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria drugs, and which is specifically targeting paediatric AIDS drugs. The UK is making a long-term commitment to UNITAID over a 20-year period, starting at €20 million in 2007 and, subject to the outcome of a joint assessment of the performance of UNITAID, rising to €60 million per year by 2010. With the help of the Clinton Foundation, UNITAID will expand significantly the children on paediatric AIDS and tuberculosis drugs.
The US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief has formed a public-private partnership to promote scientific and technical discussions on solutions for paediatric HIV treatment, formulations and access. The UK has been invited to join this new venture and has accepted.