Axios holds ARVs Entry Point to Chronic Care" Symposium at the XV AIDS Conference.

IAS Delegates Plebiscite the Strengthening of Health Systems over Reduced Drug Prices in Combatting HIV/AIDS.

Bangkok (PRWEB) July 16, 2004 -- IAS Congress delegates surveyed today by Axios Group, specialists in chronic disease management and drug delivery, overwhelmingly agreed that the cost of HIV treatments is not the reason why few patients are being treated in developing countries; the multiple inadequacies of the healthcare systems are the problem.

The symposium, chaired by Professor Hoosen Coovadia (South Africa), featured speakers Professor Marc Wainberg (Canada), Professor Kisali Pallangyo (Tanzania), and Dr Joseph Saba (France).

According to Professor Wainberg, The most important factor in ensuring both effective prevention and treatment programs for HIV has been political leadership." This was confirmed by the delegates, who chose political will" as the leading factor of success in overcoming HIV/AIDS.

ARVs provide an entry point for care of noncommunicable diseases, making the strengthening of healthcare systems indispensable," indicated Professor Kisali Pallangyo. He also noted that the chronic disease management requirement of HIV/AIDS will benefit not only HIV/AIDS patients, but also the growing over-65 population of Tanzania (29 million people by 2015).

Dr Joseph Saba, CEO of Axios, presented his organizations experience in the management of donation and access programs via 298 healthcare institutions in 78 developing countries. Not all healthcare establishments can successfully use free medical care products; they must have patient-centric systems, testing capabilities, and proper forecasting tools."

Professor Coovadia emphasized in his conclusions that "Participants clearly recognized the importance of a holistic approach to HIV/AIDS management and the urgency to eliminate vertical measures in view of their insufficient performance."

Speakers

Professor Hoosen Coovadia, Department of Pediatrics, University of Natal, South Africa

Professor Mark Wainberg, McGill University AIDS Center, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Professor Kisali Pallangyo, Principal, Medical University College of Health Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Dr. Joseph Saba, CEO, Axios, Paris, France

About Axios
Axios Group, founded in 1997, is composed of health systems specialists who focus on innovative chronic care and disease management in developing countries. Axios facilitates private initiatives. Integrating local priorities, Axios programs include Voluntary Counseling and Testing, Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission, Tertiary Care and Treament, and Orphans and Vulnerable Children. www.Axios-Group.com

Axios operates AccessToTreatment.org, a unique portal providing diagnostics and medical products to developing country healthcare institutions. Axios clients include Abbott Laboratories Fund, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH, Gilead Sciences, Novartis Pharmaceuticals and Pfizer Inc. www.AccessToTreatment.org

Axios International is a Dublin-based corporation. Axios Foundation is a US 501(c)3 corporation. Offices are located in Cleveland, Ohio; Dublin, Ireland; Paris, France; Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; Durban, South Africa; Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; and Kampala, Uganda.

Press Contact Paris: Denise Silber +331 44 860 760