End HIV in Europe by 2030 – POLITICO

With a new European Commission, a new European Parliament and several elections across the continent this year, campaigners are working to ensure that the needs and well-being of people with HIV remain high on the health policy agenda.

HIV is no longer a death sentence, thanks to the development of innovative and highly effective therapies. But the fact remains that, to end the epidemic, HIV still needs political attention.

Many people with HIV, for example, are getting older, and this presents new challenges when it comes to treatment and the specific care needs of each patient, says Mario Cascio, chair of the European AIDS Treatment Group’s quality of life program. , who has been living with HIV for more than 40 years.

EU institutions and member states must play a role through regulations, policies and by coordinating their efforts.

Mario Cascio, head of the Quality of Life program of the European AIDS Treatment Group

“Millions of people living with HIV for years are at risk of developing age-related health conditions at a higher rate and at a younger age than the general population,” he says. “We must invest in the prevention of comorbidities and ensure that our health care systems are adequately equipped with integrated people-centered care to respond to these new needs.”

In addition, he warns, the world must be alert to the growing issue of resistance to certain types of drugs, which can make it much more difficult to treat patients, an issue highlighted by the World Health Organization in February this year.

The key to meeting these two challenges, Cascio says, will be continued investment in innovation in anti-HIV treatments and a greater political commitment to ending the epidemic.

Europe has aligned itself with the UNAIDS goal of ending HIV by 2030 and political momentum is building at the European Union level, with several calls for action made in recent months. These include a joint letter from several HIV-related organizations and a letter from a cross-party group of members of the European Parliament to the European Commission and a call to action statement to EU27 health ministers from a number of countries at the last health Council meeting of Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs of the EU.

EU policymakers are calling for a range of policies to be adopted, including testing; rapid connection and retention with innovative care and prevention options; Integrated people-centred care, which considers the needs and well-being of people living with HIV; and measures to reduce stigma and discrimination. The bloc’s commitment to ending HIV was also reaffirmed in June this year by EU leaders meeting at the G7 summit in Italy.

Cascio admits progress has been made, but says campaigners must continue to push for more, calling on EU institutions and member states to coordinate their efforts and implement policies at European and national levels.

“We need an ambitious EU action plan to complement and support national efforts for the next five years and beyond,” he says. “We need priority, innovation, sustainable investment, differentiated service delivery models, strong collaboration and community involvement.”

And, he says, now is the time to act.

“We can pave the way to bring dignity to the millions of people still affected and suffering from HIV, and protect the community by ending transmission by 2030 once and for all,” he says, “It’s not often that we we have the opportunity to end an epidemic. With HIV, we do, and if we act now, we can make it happen.”

Watch our video to hear Mario’s personal story with the disease and his journey to becoming an HIV activist.

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