News

1st December 2004

World AIDS Day

London accounts for 60% of all cases of AIDS treatment in the UK and the number of newly reported cases has doubled in western Europe in the last nine years. New public awareness campaigns are urgently required and a major screening programme is being called for by politicians and professionals.

London MEP John Bowis, member of both the European Parliament's health and overseas development committees, while welcoming the European Commission's decision to present an "Action plan fighting against AIDS" in April next year, is looking for concrete actions.

He is calling for:

• religious and cultural authorities to cooperate fully in prevention programmes and to promote education and information programmes;

• the pharmaceutical industry to reduce costs of medicines to ensure all patients - including those in the poorer European countries - have access to treatment at affordable prices;

• improved palliative care for those dying of AIDS;

• action on associated diseases such as tuberculosis, Hepatitis C and mental disorders.

"Since the beginning of the new millennium we have seen a rapid rise in HIV/AIDS in Britain - and across Europe - not just in the developing world. We need to coordinate the fight against this epidemic and ensure it remains a major issue for health research and health care policies," says John Bowis.

"Britain and the other member states, together with the Commission, need to give the highest political and financial priority to the fight against the growing pandemic of HIV-AIDS," stresses Mr Bowis.

In developing countries Mr Bowis wants EU funds to be spent on improving primary health care and public education. He recognises AIDS is not just a health problem but a major factor contributing to the economic, social and political crises facing many developing nations.

Read John Bowis's speech here.