According to UNAIDS, the available funding for 2006 was $8.9 billion against the need of $14.9 billion. The shortfall forces the national governments to find strategies to maximize the treatment and prevention strategies for their citizens. The conference will attempt to address the issue through cost benefit and cost effectiveness analysis.
The conference, which will be held Wednesday, September 13 to Friday, September 15, 2006 in Boston, will gather field practitioners, government officials in developing countries, and leading researchers in health economics, infectious diseases, and public policy to discuss how economic evaluation tools can be used to create locally appropriate solutions. Participants will also address crucial policy issues and recommend how economic evaluation can inform policy decisions.The conference will be hosted by the Harvard School of Public Health and Dean Barry R. Bloom. Joy Phumaphi, Assistant Director-General of Family and Community Health of the World Health Organization will give opening remarks on Wednesday, September 13. Dr. Peter Piot, Executive Director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS will give a keynote speech on Thursday, September 14.
Dr. Richard Marlink, professor of the practice of public health at Harvard School of Public Health, who is the lead organizer of the conference said, 'This Harvard-wide conference will be a landmark meeting for researchers and policymakers to meet in person and constructively discuss major HIV/AIDS and costing issues that both parties grapple with in their work. Over these two days, we will work together to develop adaptable economic models that will ultimately help individuals and communities affected by HIV around the world.'
'Unfortunately it is now become clear that this epidemic is going to be with us for many decades to come. It's important, therefore, that we -- as researchers-- provide the empirical evidence and costing tools that policymakers can use to maximize health benefits and achieve long-term sustainability,'noted Dr. Marionette Holmes, health economist with Harvard School of Public Healh
Source-Eurekalert
GYT
