Developing Countries: HIV Infection

Mark Durkan
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress is being made by the G8 in delivering universal access to HIV prevention treatment and care by 2010.

Mr. Thomas
The UK made AIDS a centrepiece of the 2005 G8 and EU presidencies. We pressed for and secured international commitments to universal access to HIV treatment. We subsequently worked hard to ensure that this commitment was endorsed and expanded by the international community in the Political Declaration adopted by the United Nations General Assembly High Level Meeting on AIDS (2 June 2006). This Declaration committed to achieve comprehensive HIV prevention programmes, treatment, care and support by 2010. It also agreed that countries would develop ambitious targets, including interim targets for 2008, to measure progress towards universal access. Crucially, it also set out a process by which countries will develop national AIDS plans to scale up towards universal access by 2010; and made the commitment that no credible, costed, national AIDS plan should go unfunded.

By early 2007, 90 countries had developed targets for achieving universal access, and at least 23 countries had proceeded with costing their strategic plans. The UK is pressing UNAIDS to define what constitutes a credible national AIDS plan. We are also pressing for a multi-stakeholder process in country to review universal access plans as they are developed, to agree their credibility and ensure they are fully funded.

We will push hard to ensure an ongoing focus by the G8 on achieving its commitment to universal access. We see our work with UNAIDS as central to unlocking the G8 and international community’s commitment to funding credible, costed national AIDS plans. We will ensure that this work is discussed as we prepare for the G8 Heiligendamm summit in June.

Mark Durkan
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress was made at the G8 meeting of Development Ministers on 26 and 27 March in Berlin on establishing a funding plan for the delivery of universal access to HIV prevention treatment and care; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Thomas
At the Berlin meeting G8 Development Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to get as close as possible to universal access to HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care by 2010. They acknowledged that the price of some drugs remains prohibitive for many countries, and more needs to be done to help lower their cost including the use of TRIPS flexibilities to the fullest extent.

By early 2007, 90 countries had developed targets for achieving universal access, and at least 23 countries had proceeded with costing their strategic plans. The UK is pressing UNAIDS to define what constitutes a credible national AIDS plan. We are also pressing for a multi-stakeholder process in country to review universal access plans as they are developed, to agree their credibility and ensure they are fully funded.

We will push hard to ensure an ongoing focus by the G8 on achieving its commitment to universal access. We see our work with UNAIDS as central to unlocking the G8 and international community’s commitment to funding credible, costed national AIDS plans. We will ensure that this work is discussed as we prepare for the G8 Heiligendamm summit in June.