Even as UNAIDS issued a warning about “a historic funding crisis” that could endanger millions of lives with HIV, Dr. Ishwar Gilada, the Secretary General of the People’s Health Organization (India), stated on Friday that India is capable of producing affordable, high-quality HIV diagnostics and medications and supplying them throughout the world.

Gilada, the sole Indian member of the Governing Council of the International AIDS Society (IAS), promised that the nation could produce generic versions of the novel injectable medication lenacapavir, which provides almost total protection against HIV with only two doses annually.

Dr. Gilada, who is also the President Emeritus of the AIDS Society of India, stated, “India has a time-tested and proven capacity to manufacture HIV diagnostics, medicines, and robust supply chain mechanisms to deliver them worldwide sustainably.”

His remarks coincided with a recent UNAIDS report warning that a permanent withdrawal of funding for HIV treatment and prevention from the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) could result in six million new HIV infections and over four million more AIDS-related deaths by 2029.

On January 20, after the inauguration of US President Donald Trump, the US, the biggest donor to HIV financing worldwide, suspended all aid.

The UNAIDS report calls it “a historic funding crisis” that might undo decades of HIV progress. Since 2010, AIDS-related mortality have decreased by 56% and the number of new HIV infections has decreased by 40% thanks to the incredible efforts of governments and communities.

According to Gilada, “Indian medicines have made a profound difference in the fight against AIDS historically, even though the Global North may have provided funds or bank loans to Global South nations.”

He continued by saying that although India has long been supplying life-saving ART globally, improving the health of over 90% of HIV-positive individuals, UN authorities have never given it recognition.

Gilada pointed out that according to NACO, the government of India funds 94% of the HIV program, with only 6% coming from the Global Fund.

Citing a UNAIDS research that found 25 of the 60 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) have discovered methods to raise HIV spending from domestic resources until 2026, he said, “The future of the HIV response must be nationally owned and led sustainable, inclusive, and multisectoral.”

Gilada emphasized that LMIC countries must give domestic and creative health finance top priority. Additionally, he encouraged them to look at creative financing options including social entrepreneurship models.

In contrast, there were 2.54 million HIV-positive individuals in India in 2023 (including 70,000 children), a modest increase from 2.5 million in 2022 and 2.4 million in 2021.

In 2023, there were a startling 68,450 new infections, with 187 new infections per day. This is a modest increase over 2021. Although it has climbed by 11% in a year, there were still 35,870 AIDS-related deaths in 2023, or four deaths every hour.

“Everyone in need worldwide should have access to HIV prevention, diagnostics, treatment, care, and support services,” Gilada stated.

“If we ignore HIV prevention, we will not be able to eradicate AIDS.” We must use our science-based HIV combination prevention methods as efficiently as possible to ensure a significant drop in the number of new infections, Gilada stated.