China will fully fund AIDS response

The Chinese government has pledged to fully fund its AIDS response in the coming years, and currently domestic sources account for more than 80 percent of the resources spent on AIDS in the country, according to a new report issued on July 19 by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS.

Globally, as international funding flattens, more countries are increasing their share of investments for HIV resources. A record 8 million people are now receiving antiretroviral therapy, according to the report.

BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) increased domestic public spending on HIV by more than 120 percent between 2006 and 2011. They now fund, on average, more than 75 percent of their domestic AIDS resources.

In 2011, low- and middle-income countries invested $8.6 billion in AIDS resources, an increase of 11 percent over 2010. International funding, however, remained flat at 2008 levels.

Some 81 countries increased their domestic investments in AIDS resources by more than 50 percent between 2006 and 2011.

While domestic investments in AIDS are increasing, there is still a large shortfall in global funding for HIV. By 2015, the estimated annual gap will be $7 billion, according to UNAIDS.

HIV funding from the international community, on the other hand, was largely stable from 2008 and 2011, at $8.2 billion. Funding from the United States accounts for nearly 48 percent of all international assistance for AIDS.

Although total resources for AIDS have not significantly increased, record numbers of people are accessing antiretroviral therapy, the report said.

In 2011, 8 million people had access to life-saving treatment in low- and middle-income countries - an increase of 1.4 million over 2010.

Globally, some 34.2 million people are living with HIV/AIDS.

China now has an estimated 780,000 people living with HIV/AIDS, including 154,000 full-blown patients, according to statistics from the Ministry of Health.