US is taking a ‘real risk’ with hasty shift in efforts to fight HIV, experts say
Summary
The US government is changing how it fights HIV globally by moving away from the Pepfar program to individual agreements with countries. Experts worry this quick change might reduce the quality and amount of HIV testing and treatment, possibly causing setbacks in the effort to end the HIV epidemic.Key Facts
- Pepfar (President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) has been a key US global HIV program for over 20 years.
- The chief scientific officer of Pepfar resigned shortly after the government’s latest report.
- HIV treatment numbers worldwide are steady at about 20.3 million people, but HIV testing dropped by 17%, and prevention usage (PrEP) fell by 33%.
- The number of healthcare workers supporting HIV services decreased by 24%.
- Services for infants, including HIV testing and diagnosis, have sharply declined, raising concerns due to high death rates among infants with HIV.
- Pediatric HIV treatment dropped from about 643,000 in 2022 to around 509,000 in 2025; testing also decreased significantly.
- The State Department blames declines partly on program successes, but experts worry infections might be going undetected.
- The US is moving from Pepfar’s detailed data reporting to separate agreements with countries, which may limit the ability to track progress.
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