Mission & Values

The European AIDS Treatment Group (EATG)

Founded in 1992, the European AIDS Treatment Group (EATG) is a European network of nationally-based activists. As a European patient-led advocacy organisation, it has been at the forefront of the development of the civil society response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Europe. It represents and defends the treatment-related interests of people living with HIV and AIDS.

EATG is a voluntary organisation made up of 97 members from over 30 different European countries. Our members are representatives of different communities affected by HIV/AIDS in Europe. Since its foundation, the EATG has been at the forefront of the development of the civil society response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Europe. Our activities focus on treatment activism and treatment advocacy.

In responding to HIV, the EATG also considers diseases frequently seen as co-infection in people with HIV, as well as other health issues that increase the risk of HIV.

Global Aims

1. To enable people with HIV or at risk of HIV infection and their supporters to significantly influence the development, testing and approving of HIV treatments. In this context, HIV treatment means medical devices, products and diagnostic tests that prevent or treat HIV infection and include continuous improvement in the quality of life of people affected. (see the ECAB)

2. To advocate for the best practices of care and treatment.

3. To advocate for rapidly available existing and new HIV treatment.

4. To promote the access of the latest available information about treatment legislation for patients, health care providers as well as policy makers.

5. To influence changes in legislation and patent law in order to support the lowest achievable cost for HIV treatment, including the support for generic medicine.

6. To monitor the changes in Health care systems and policies to ensure the rights and the quality of services influence positively the quality of life of people living with HIV/AIDS.

Mission

The EATG’s mission is to achieve the fastest possible access to state of the art medical products, devices and diagnostic tests that prevent or treat HIV infection or improve the quality of life of people living with HIV, or who are at risk of HIV infection.

In responding to HIV, the EATG also considers diseases frequently seen as co-infection in people with HIV, as well as other health issues that increase the risk of HIV.

The EATG’s primary geographic focus is the member states served by the World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Office for Europe. However, the EATG does consider opportunities to collaborate with and support similar efforts in other parts of the world.

Values

The EATG shall strive to:

• Be democratic and accountable, transparent and accessible to its members, people living with HIV, and their supporters and advocates.

• Reflect in its membership the diversity of people living with HIV.

• Respect the diversity of people regarding considerations such as religion, gender, sexual preference and lifestyle.

• Work to complement and collaborate with other relevant groups.

• Prioritise and regularly evaluate its activities according to its objectives, cost effectiveness, and fairness.

The EATG is a signatory and an active contributor of the Code of Good Practice for NGOs Responding to HIV/AIDS