Access to AIDS treatment for all has recently become a possibility worldwide. Medicines and laboratory tests are now effective and affordable. Projects have demonstrated the feasibility of treatment in resource poor settings. However, a major obstacle to treatment is the inadequate health care systems in poor countries – particularly lack of doctors, nurses, and social workers and inadequate systems of chronic care. Improvement of health care will require changes in management, aid policies, and addressing foreign debt.

Steve Gloyd, professor, Department of Health Services; director, International Health Program, School of Public Health & Community Medicine, University of Washington

05/05/2005