To compensate for budget deficits, states across the country are making cuts in vital programs, including those providing diagnostic tests and treatment for patients with HIV/AIDS.

Most recently, on July 28, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger of California signed a package of legislation to erase a $24 billion deficit, which includes a $52 million decrease in funding to HIV/AIDS programs. State spending will be cut by more than half in providing education and prevention, therapeutic monitoring, counseling and testing, early intervention, and home and community-based care.

While this cut may be a…

On July 14, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) announced its plans to invest £60 million ($97 million) in AIDS treatment in Africa over the next ten years. The company’s plans focus primarily on the care and treatment of children with HIV and AIDS as well as improved access to antiretroviral drugs.

Andrew Witty, the Chief Executive Officer of GSK, outlined several programs aimed to help those living with HIV and AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa. According to the World Health Organization, more than three-quarters of all AIDS related deaths occurred in this region in…

President Obama recently unveiled his Global Health Initiative Plan on Tuesday, May 5. The plan allocates $63 billion for global health programs over the next six years, including HIV/AIDS programs. The plan proposes a cut to annual HIV/AIDS funding by extending the initial proposal from five years to six years without increase spending accordingly.

This signifies a lack of treatments for newly diagnosed HIV patients, while prevention programs, such as needle exchange in Eastern Europe, will be stopped.

Prior to the economic crisis last fall, Congress had approved $48 billion…

In light of California’s budget crisis, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s proposed state budget will cut nearly all funding for AIDS programs once supported by the state’s General Fund. If passed, the cuts could affect the Office of AIDS — the state agency that organizes programs, services, and activities related to HIV/AIDS — and its ability to provide services to California’s citizens.

The measure will ultimately affect HIV testing and prevention programs as well as Californians living with the disease. Officials from AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), a non-profit health care organization, said…

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the release of nearly $1.8 billion through the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program to help individuals living with HIV/AIDS.

Currently, the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program supports more than 529,000 people per year through funding to states and community organizations. While the primary focus is to provide immediate care and services, the program also supports research to improve care for patients. To facilitate grant allocation, the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program is divided into three sections.

In the most recent HHS grant, the…