Access to second-line antiretroviral therapeutic regimens in low-resource settings: experiences from Cameroon
D'Almeida, C.; Essi, M.-J.é; Camara, M.; Coriat, B.
Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes 57(Suppl 1): S55-S58
2011
ISSN/ISBN: 1944-7884 PMID: 21857288 DOI: 10.1097/qai.0b013e318220787dDocument Number: 222873
Cameroon is one of the few sub-Saharan countries engaged in the implementation of a universal public health policy on HIV/AIDS. In May 2007, second-line antiretroviral regimens were made available in the country; thanks to the joint participation of the Cameroonian government and the UNITAID/Clinton Foundation HIV/AIDS Initiative. This cooperation was achieved by means of a Memorandum of Understanding. The agreement aimed at providing free-of-charge access of 8 antiretroviral formulations. Nevertheless, only 1.9% of the estimated 16% patients that are presently in need of second-line regimens has access to these medicines. The main hindrances to achieving scaled-up access refer to the new institutional arrangements that are necessary for the demand and distribution of these medicines, the limiting conditions for the therapeutic monitoring of second-line treatments, at the national level and the governance of the Memorandum of Understanding itself.