MIN/Sp/AU/CAMH3/6 HIV/AIDS Page 6 available to patients in need of them. With UNITAID partnership, partner countries are receiving price reductions of up to 40% for 1st and 2nd line ARVs and diagnostic facilities 6 . The United States remains the largest bilateral donor, contributing more than half of total bilateral aid to HIV since 2006—mainly through the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Early this year, the US Congress has debated and passed the reauthorization, with possibility to more than double the current level of funding over the next five years 7 . Other major bilateral funding sources include the United Kingdom, whose share in the total represents 12%; and the Netherlands, Germany, France, Sweden and Canada, whose contributions together represent another 20% of the total contribution from OECD DAC members. As at the end of 2006, a total of US$5.56 million was committed, of which US$3.9 million was disbursed (bi-laterals accounted for 76%, while GFTATM 24.2% of these disbursements) 8 3.2 STRENGTHENING HEALTH SYSTEMS As the overwhelming majority of the HIV and AIDS services are planned and executed within the health sector, the health systems of low and middle income countries are outstretched and are unable to cope with the additional burden— unless additional resources are allocated to them. With HIV and AIDS care and treatment services comes a huge price tag in strengthening capacity for new and expensive diagnostic tools as well as treatment regimens. Major global stakeholders Figure 3.1: % of countries reported having policy/guidelines on are beginning to realize the HTC, PMTCT and ART, in WHO African Region, 2007 importance of health systems strengthening On all 3 49 within the context of the interventions Universal Access On ART 89 approach. For this reason, major global funding On PMTCT 80 mechanisms for HIV/AIDS, such as GFATM and On HTC 60 PEPFAR, are encouraging low/middle income countries to place health systems strengthening on the top of their health agenda. 3.2.1 National Policy/Guidelines for Priority HIV Interventions 6 7 8 About UNITAID. http://www.unitaid.eu/en/UNITAID-budget.html The Global AIDS Fight. Editorial. The New York Times. February 29, 2008. Financial resources required to achieve universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support. UNAIDS, Geneva: pg. 3 Additional information can be found at: http:data.unaids.org/pub/presentation/2007/20070605 unaids kff ppoint en.pdf