MSF highlights dangers of paid AIDS care

People who pay for anti-AIDS care are at increased risk of treatment failure, the international medical NGO, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), said at the International Conference on AIDS and Sexually transmitted infections in Africa, in Abuja, Nigeria. MSF research showed that among patients who paid for AIDS care, 44 percent had multiple treatment interruptions or took insufficient dosages due to lack of funds. Expressing concern over the long-term medical effects of these treatment interruptions, MSF warned that HIV-positive patients were more vulnerable to opportunistic infections such as pneumonia or tuberculosis. "So forcing people to pay, and thereby risking treatment interruptions, can make this life-prolonging treatment less effective. If we want people to survive on treatment, we have to ensure access to free care," said MSF's Dr Jens Wenkel.