Countries accused of abandoning AIDS pledges

UNAIDS program deputy executive director Dr Paul De Lay says new advances in drugs may cut the cost needed to fund the battle against AIDS. (Reuters: Sukree Sukplang)

The 18th international conference on AIDS opened in Austria overnight with accusations that eastern European leaders are guilty of criminal negligence.

The International AIDS Society president, Julio Montaner, also lashed out at world leaders for failing to honour their funding promises.

Protesters have dogged the conference in Vienna, upset that world leaders have not followed through on their pledges to deliver universal access to HIV AIDS treatment by 2010.

Mr Montaner says European leaders have been eager to spend money bailing out the Greek economy, but not funding HIV AIDS pledges.

"[About] 410 billion euros appeared from nowhere when the Greek economy faltered earlier this year, but when it comes to universal access we simply are choosing to ignore it. That is not acceptable," he said.

Mr Montaner says some eastern European countries are indifferent to the plight of people with AIDS.

He told reporters that these countries were irresponsible to the point of criminal negligence for not attending the Vienna meeting.

The biennial conference is also used to help update scientists on the latest advances in anti-retroviral therapy using drugs that have helped turn HIV from a death sentence to a chronic, but manageable, disease in parts of the world.

UNAIDS program deputy executive director Dr Paul De Lay says new advances in drug treatments will help cut the cost needed to fund the battle against AIDS.

"In the past we have often gone in the direction of cheapest possible drug combination. Now we are looking at a drug combination that will be much more effective, much less toxic," he said.

"It may cost a little bit more but ultimately it will save us money.

"If we start people earlier on treatment and if we use a more effective drug combination, they won't have to be hospitalised. That will cut the first year's cost in half."

Dr De Lay says the AIDS epidemic has stabilised, but is not under control.

"We are seeing, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, a decreasing number of new infections - so that is hopeful and this is particularly being seen in 15 to 24 year olds," he said.

"But there are other parts of the world, particularly in eastern Europe where the number of new infections per year is going up."

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) more than 33 million people were living with HIV in 2008.

It is estimated there is 2.7 million new infections each year.