The Economics of HIV/AIDS in Low-Income Countries: The Case for Prevention
Journal of Economic Perspectives
vol. 20,
no. 3, Summer 2006
(pp. 121-142)
(Complimentary)
Abstract
There are two approaches to reducing the burden of sickness and death associated with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which leads to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS): treatment and prevention. Despite large international aid flows for HIV/AIDS, the needs for prevention and treatment in low- and middle-income countries outstrip the resources available. Thus, it becomes necessary to set priorities. With limited resources, should the focus of efforts to combat HIV/AIDS be on prevention or treatment? I discuss the range of prevention and treatment alternatives and examine their cost effectiveness. I consider various arguments that have been raised against the use of cost-effectiveness analysis in setting public policy priorities for the response to HIV/AIDS in developing countries. I conclude that promoting AIDS treatment using antiretrovirals in resource-constrained countries comes at a huge cost in terms of avoidable deaths that could be prevented through interventions that would substantially lower the scale of the epidemic.Citation
Canning, David. 2006. "The Economics of HIV/AIDS in Low-Income Countries: The Case for Prevention." Journal of Economic Perspectives, 20 (3): 121-142. DOI: 10.1257/jep.20.3.121JEL Classification
- I12 Health Production
- I18 Health: Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
- O15 Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
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