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News Sport Weather World Service Languages Low Graphics version | Change edition About BBC News | Feedback | Help News Front Page Africa Americas Asia-Pacific Europe Middle East South Asia UK Business Health Medical notes Science/Nature Technology Entertainment ----------------- Have Your Say In Pictures Week at a Glance Country Profiles In Depth Programmes Last Updated: Friday, 9 July, 2004, 11:04 GMT 12:04 UK E-mail this to a friend Printable version Aids drugs aim 'will not be met' By Richard Black BBC Science Correspondent The aim of the project is to widen the availability of HIV drugs The target of giving Aids drugs to three million people in the developing world by the end of 2005 will not be met, a leading expert warns. Professor Joep Lange, co-chair of the UNAids conference in Bangkok, told the BBC the target was "inflated and unrealistic". The 'Three by Five' initiative is part of UNAids and World Health Organisation attempts to stem the spread of HIV. The WHO declined to respond to Professor Lange's comments. Trying to get as many people on therapy as quickly as possible without actually making sure the structures are there ... is not actually the most productive way forward Professor Joep Lange Discussions on the so-called 'Three by Five' initiative began in 2001, and the WHO made it a formal target on World Aids Day last December. Even then it was widely regarded as ambitious; and now Professor Lange, who's also President of the International Aids Society, says it simply won't be met. He told the BBC in an interview from Bangkok: "I think it's impossible." . "It's an inflated target that is totally unrealistic." By expressing these doubts on Three by Five, Professor Lange is putting on record what many other observers have been saying privately - UNAids itself admits that attempts to enrol HIV-positive people in treatment programmes are lagging. If Professor Lange's analysis is correct, it means that a major initiative to curb the spread of HIV is failing. UNAids Executive Director Dr Peter Piot has described Three by Five as "a massive challenge, but one we cannot afford to miss." Last week's UNAids report on the global epidemic showed that last year, five million people were newly infected with HIV, and three million died from Aids. Professor Lange says the slow progress is partly down to lack of money - in particular the Global Fund to Fight Aids TB and Malaria, launched to great fanfare three years ago as the international community's definitive response to these developing world diseases, has received far less in donations than it initially hoped. Progress report Ideological tussles between the current US administration and other major players have diverted money, energy and time. Many countries where there's a great need for anti-retroviral drugs don't have the infrastructure to deliver them reliably. But Professor Lange was also critical of the concept itself. "Obviously it's good to get attention; but at the same time we need to make plans that take into account things that are not taken into account now," he told the BBC. "Just putting a number out and trying to get as many people on therapy as quickly as possible without actually making sure the structures are there to support that I think is not actually the most productive way forward." Coming from a central figure in the international Aids community, this is an explicit criticism of the UN's strategy. The WHO declined to offer a response - it is due to release its own progress report on Three by Five at a news conference in Bangkok shortly before the UNAids conference officially opens. E-mail this to a friend Printable version LINKS TO MORE HEALTH STORIES SelectUN head urges action against AidsIraq appeals for health fundingMint leaf starves cancer to deathChild's weight linked to parentsAids drugs aim 'will not be met'Wrong to call terrorists 'madmen'NHS scans 'to be sent abroad'Cigarette giant settles $1bn rowBowie recovers after heart surgeryPrince criticised over therapiesStem cells 'treat heart attacks'Drug offers new way to fight HIVGene fault linked to depressionEurope rejects foetal rights bidDucks blamed for deadly bird fluStudy to probe causes of autismCancer: The factsHeart disease and strokeA guide to pregnancy  HIV AND AIDS KEY STORIES UN head urges action against Aids China's premier issues Aids alert Aids treatment falls behind target US criticised over conference FEATURES Photo Journal How Juliet, who is HIV positive, is educating others in Zambia Facing the cost of Aids Aids and poverty The search for a vaccine BACKGROUND The biology of Aids Map: Global spread of HIV Q&A: Antiretroviral drugs Impact of Aids IN DEPTH The Aids debate RELATED INTERNET LINKS: Aids 2004 - Bangkok The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites TOP HEALTH STORIES NOW UN head urges action against Aids Iraq appeals for health funding Mint leaf starves cancer to death Child's weight linked to parents News alerts | E-mail services | Desktop ticker | Mobiles/PDAs Back to top ^^ News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia UK | Business | Entertainment | Science/Nature | Technology | Health Have Your Say | In Pictures | Week at a Glance | Country Profiles | In Depth | Programmes BBC Homepage >> | BBC Sport >> | BBC Weather >> | BBC World Service >> About BBC News | Help | Feedback | News sources | Privacy & Cookies Policy | About the BBC

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