Funding Crisis Threatens Vital HIV Services in Russia Amidst Growing Epidemic

One of the prominent organizations in Russia that provides support for people living with HIV has reported a loss of government funding this year, putting crucial services at risk during a time when the nation is facing one of the fastest-growing HIV epidemics globally.

The AIDS.Center foundation noted that it was unable to obtain grants from both the Presidential Grants Fund and Moscow’s Department of Labor and Social Protection on two separate occasions this year.

Employees express concern that essential programs are now jeopardized due to this funding loss. These include rapid HIV testing, a hotline for assistance, emergency supplies of antiretroviral medications, as well as educational initiatives and a media platform.

Polina Melnikova, a staff member at AIDS.Center, stated to the Ostorozhno Novosti news outlet, «For thousands of individuals, these services are not just formalities; they represent genuine assistance and support. Their elimination would severely impact the entire community of individuals living with HIV, as well as the overall HIV prevention framework in Russia.»

As of the end of 2023, Russia officially recorded 1.2 million people living with HIV, with official statistics indicating that approximately 30,000 working-age Russians succumb to the virus each year.

Around 60% of these fatalities are concentrated in 24 of the most affected regions, which include Chukotka, Kemerovo, and Irkutsk, as well as the Altai, Perm, and Leningrad regions. These regions are also responsible for more than half of all new HIV infections.

Since the beginning of the monitoring of the epidemic, 1.7 million individuals have been diagnosed with HIV, with approximately 500,000 having died. Each year, roughly 60,000 new cases are recorded.

Vadim Pokrovsky, the director of the Federal AIDS Center, has acknowledged that delays or inadequate treatment continue to be significant issues.

Furthermore, government expenditure on testing has diminished. In 2023, state procurement of diagnostic tests dropped by nearly one-third compared to the previous year, totaling 2.88 billion rubles (approximately $36 million), as reported by the watchdog Zdravresurs.