In 2011, 2.3 million got infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, making new infection the lowest ever in more than a decade.
UNAIDS has credited India with helping the world battle AIDS.
"India has contributed enormously to the AIDS response through its capacity to manufacture generic antiretroviral drugs in the private sector. With 80% of these drugs being generics purchased in India, several billion dollars have been saved over the past five years," says the UNAIDS Report 2012: Together we will end AIDS, released on Thursday morning.Generic drugs from India resulted in the price of one year's supply of ART dropping from $10,000/person/year in 2000 to less than $100/person/year.
"India's the global pharmacy for the world that made it possible for 8 million people access ARTs. These drugs not only help people living with HIV to live healthier and longer, but also reduces the chances of their infecting their regular partners through unprotected sex by at least 96%, if not more," says Steve Kraus is director of the UNAIDS Regional Support Team for Asia and the Pacific based in Bangkok, Thailand.
There were 44.2 million people living with AIDS in 2011, marginally up from 33.5 million in 2010, because more people are alive because 8 million people are on antiretroviral therapy (ART is used to treat HIV) on Wednesday, compared to a few thousands a decade ago.
{{/usCountry}}There were 44.2 million people living with AIDS in 2011, marginally up from 33.5 million in 2010, because more people are alive because 8 million people are on antiretroviral therapy (ART is used to treat HIV) on Wednesday, compared to a few thousands a decade ago.
{{/usCountry}}India has 2.7 million people living with HIV, with an adult prevalence of 0.31% of the general population.
India gives free ART to people with HIV, with the cost of the treatment being the cheapest in India.
The first-line treatment for people who've newly come on treatment costs the the government Rs. 5,000/person/year, while the second-line therapy -- for people with immunity against the first-line drugs - costs Rs. 29,000/person/year. Almost 30,000 people are on second-line treatment in India.
Globally, 8 million with HIV are being treated with ARTs, which has led to new HIV infections have fallen in 33 countries since 2001, mostly in Africa and Asia.
WORLD & AIDS 2011
Source: UNAIDS Report 2012: Together we will end AIDS