Around 13% of South Africa’s population are living with HIV and the country has the world’s largest HIV treatment programme. The country’s finances are however under huge pressure and significant cuts were recently announced to government’s HIV budget.
5.8 of the roughly 7.8 million people living with HIV in the country are taking antiretroviral therapy (ART). The vast majority of people receiving HIV treatment in the country are accessing it through the public sector where medicines is fully paid for by the South African government. HIV treatment is provided in the public sector within a broader package of HIV prevention, treatment, and care services.
An estimated $25 billion is spent annually on the country’s HIV response – mainly from the South African government, but with substantial contributions from the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
Despite its high absolute cost, investment in HIV remains a “no-brainer”. HIV investments in South Africa deliver significant health benefits, avert millions of deaths, and allow people to live healthier and fuller lives. HIV investments also deliver significant economic returns allowing people to remain in school, remain employed, and earn an income. A recent report by Economist Impact estimated that every dollar invested into HIV in South Africa between 2022 and 2030 will deliver a return on investment of $7.
However, despite the strong returns on HIV investments, the reality is that there is limited money available to support the country’s HIV response and that funding is projected to shrink in future years.
Read the full analysis at Spotlight.
SEE ALSO:
Source : Spotlight
Related HIV and Co-Infections News
-
Bhekisisa: In 2 years the Global Fund will cut South Africa’s grant by a quarter. In 8 years it will be gone
-
AVAC: New PEPFAR data reveal a prevention crisis beneath the surface
-
[Report] Physicians for Human Rights: Trump administration foreign policy approach to South Africa wastes billions of dollars, imperils global health
Get involved
Are you living with HIV/AIDS? Are you part of a community affected by HIV/AIDS and co-infections? Do you work or volunteer in the field? Are you motivated by our cause and interested to support our work?
Subscribe
Stay in the loop and get all the important EATG updates in your inbox with the EATG newsletter. The HIV & co-infections bulletin is your source of handpicked news from the field arriving regularly to your inbox.