General Assembly General Assembly

Statement by H.E. Mr. Bhagwant S. Bishnoi, Acting Permanent Representative Of India On Agenda Item 10: \'Implementation Of The Declaration Of Commitment On HIV/AIDS And The Political Declaration On HIV/AIDS\' At The United Nations General Assembly on June 06, 2014

 

Mr. President,

We take note of the report of the Secretary General titled ‘Towards ending the AIDS epidemic: meeting the 2015 targets and planning the post-2015 era’ (document A /68/825) that outlines the challenges facing the international community on this front. 

 

Mr. President,

The National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) in India has led to an overall reduction in adult HIV prevalence, HIV incidence (new infections) and AIDS-related mortality over the past decade. India is estimated to have around 2.09 million persons living with HIV in 2011 down from 2.32 million in 2006. Adult HIV prevalence has decreased from 0.41% in 2001 through 0.35% in 2006 to 0.27% in 2011. 

 

India also witnessed an overall reduction of 57% in estimated annual new HIV infections (among adult population) between 2000 and 2011, reflecting the impact of scaled up prevention interventions. Wider access to ART has led to 29% reduction in estimated annual AIDS-related deaths between 2007 and 2011.
The Government has undertaken targeted interventions for high risk groups and bridge populations (female sex workers, men who have sex with men, transgenders, injecting drug users, truckers and migrants). The other important features of our National AIDS Programme are strategizing comprehensive information, education and communication packages for specific segments and scaling up of the service delivery component. We have also involved the corporate sector, NGOs and other stakeholders as partners towards this end.

 

Mr. President,

Notwithstanding the encouraging gains made in some of the priority areas identified in the Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS of 2011, the overall scenario remains bleak. The UNSG’s Report notes that an estimated 35 million people were living with HIV worldwide.  It further notes that more than half of the people eligible for anti-retroviral therapy still do not have access to anti-retroviral drugs. 

 

The Report notes that the HIV epidemic continues to disproportionately affect sub-Saharan Africa which accounts for an estimated 71% of all people living with HIV globally, 70% of new HIV infections and 75% of AIDS related deaths.  On the other hand, in much of the developed world today, HIV/AIDS is no longer a life-threatening disease. As scaled-up anti-retroviral therapy (ART) extends lives and improves quality of life, older adults are accounting for an increased share of people living with HIV.

 

It is estimated that less than 6% of persons receiving treatment have access to second generation anti-retroviral drugs. Clearly, the challenge before us today is not of unavailability of medical treatment, but of accessibility to medical treatment primarily due to its unaffordability in many developing countries. Such North-South divide is simply unacceptable.

 

Mr. President,

While the UNSG’s report makes a few important recommendations in addressing the challenges facing us, including through development of new ambitious targets, closing gaps in access to services, replacement of punitive approaches with protective ones, etc., it is disappointing to note that the report fails to address two critical issues, namely, the need to expand international funding as well as accessibility to anti-retroviral treatments. 

 

Another important shortcoming of the HIV/AIDS response is that it created a vertical programme to address the crisis more effectively.  This would have worked well in conjunction with well-functioning health systems.  Many developing countries, however, are grappling with issues of capacity and quality in their health care systems.  Therefore, it is important that HIV/AIDS related programmes are integrated with overall strengthening of health systems.

 

Mr. President,

One of the major obstacles in accessing treatment is the high cost of anti-retroviral drugs.   In addition, as the HIV/AIDS experience has shown, diagnostic tools are also important for effective prevention.

 

The Indian pharmaceutical industry has been plugging this critical gap by producing high quality affordable drugs for use in India and also in other developing countries.  India is committed to use all flexibilities under the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights Agreement of the World Trade Organization to ensure availability of affordable and quality medicine to all people living with HIV.

 

It is regrettable to note that these TRIPS flexibilities, which are critical for provision of public health to millions across the developing world, are being questioned.  The narrow considerations of commerce and profitability should not be allowed to deny the most basic and the most fundamental human right - the right to life. India stands ready to play a role in this context.

 

While governments no doubt need to augment their national efforts, it is equally evident that governments alone in many developing countries will not be able to meet these challenges.  The need for an integrated approach that includes effective prevention strategies, access to low cost affordable treatment for all, and enhanced international support cannot be over-emphasized for the effective containment of the HIV/AIDS.

 

Thank you, Mr. President.