The US government’s latest budget proposal has sparked alarm among healthcare advocates and researchers, as it significantly reduces funding for HIV prevention programs. The move is seen as a major setback in the fight against the disease, which has made significant progress over the past four decades due to advancements in treatment and medication.
According to officials, the Trump administration plans to slash one-third of the Health and Human Services (HHS) agency’s budget, eliminating funding for several key programs. These cuts include the Minority AIDS Initiative, Ryan White HIV/AIDS programs, CDC’s HIV/AIDS prevention and surveillance activities, and preventive services for low-income communities.
This reduction in funding comes as new treatments and medications are being developed to combat the disease. A groundbreaking injectable version of PrEP called lenacapavir has already shown promising results in clinical trials, offering an alternative to daily oral pills for individuals who struggle with pill fatigue.
However, experts warn that the loss of consistent treatment for HIV could lead to the emergence of new strains of the virus that are resistant to current medications. “Treatment interruptions and people being on and off of treatment can breed resistance to the virus,” said Dr. Ofole Mgbako, an HIV doctor and assistant professor of medicine at NYU Langone Health.
The cuts also undermine efforts to address disparities in healthcare access for vulnerable populations, including the LGBTQ+ community. In February, nine nonprofit organizations sued the Trump administration over the executive orders that led to the termination of their grants.
As the epidemic continues to spread, advocates are calling on lawmakers to reject this drastic reduction in funding and instead prioritize investments in HIV prevention programs. “We won’t see the kind of launch that we had hoped for” for PrEP “to get out to communities,” warned John Johnson, a public health advocate.
The fate of the Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative, launched by former President Trump in 2019, is also uncertain. The program aimed to provide low-cost or no-cost PrEP to patients, but its future is now in jeopardy due to the HHS budget proposal.
With the latest cuts, the US government’s response to the HIV epidemic appears to be backtracking on decades of progress made in reducing transmission rates. As the disease continues to affect millions worldwide, it is essential that lawmakers take action to support and prioritize investments in HIV prevention programs.
Source: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/advocates-rfk-jr-health-cuts-hiv_n_680025ebe4b0485a7732be89