PHA-Exchange> Action Aid now criticizes the WB funding model in HIV / AIDS

[Claudio]

From: "Vern Weitzel" <vern.weitzel at undp.org>

>   Action Aid International criticizes WB funding model in HIV / AIDS 
> sector
>
 The agency called
> for the establishment of a holistic support system for financing HIV and
> AIDS control programmes in developing countries.
>
> In a comprehensive report on "Emerging Governance Issues on HIV and AIDS
> in Asia", the NGO felt that the pre-conditions set by WB for availing
> the funds can only aggravate the conditions that create vulnerability to
> HIV. "The WB allocates large sums of money to fight HIV and AIDS, the
> money will only be available if the borrowing countries first agree to
> adhere to IMF loan conditions," it noted. The agency felt that a system,
> integrating preventive and promotive measures along with treatment with
> ARV has to be evolved. Rational use of ART as a part of comprehensive
> care of HIV positive persons and monitoring of ART by civil society was
> also suggested as essential.
>
> The report also indicates that the private sector financing constitutes
> a very minor proportion of total spending across the Asian region. "The
> role of the public sector will remain critical in terms of prioritizing
> investments both for and within the health sector, as well as in the
> signals that it sends to the private sector," it said. Another major
> finding of the study was that out of the contracts worth $ 3.4 billion
> the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) signed
> in 2002-'05, only $ 1.6 billion was disbursed. "Donors and countries hit
> heavily by HIV and AIDS are now asking why funds are sitting lazy in the
> WB safe. Except for Cambodia and Laos, per capita health investment by
> the Global Fund in Asian countries has been less than $1per capita," the
> report stated.
>
> The report, second in the series brought out by Action Aid was released
> here on April 7th.
>
> source: www.pharmabiz.com <http://www.pharmabiz.com>
>