Continuing a series of informative conventions and lectures for World AIDS Week, the Student Global AIDS Campaign sponsored a lecture by University of Wisconsin experts in AIDS-related pharmacy and law Wednesday evening.
The panel included influential UW faculty and staff with connections to the Global HIV/AIDS health-care system.
Dr. Cynthia Haq, professor of Family Medicine and Population Health Sciences, provided her insight from her hands-on experience in Uganda, Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, Brazil and Iran. According to Haq, about 38.6 million people worldwide are identified as living with HIV, with approximately 1 million living in Uganda alone.
Haq said the situation in developing countries like Uganda is not only relevant to AIDS, but numerous other health-care concerns.
"This is not simple drug therapy, with not just HIV/AIDS, but concurrent tuberculosis and malaria; the treatment needs to be balanced," Haq said. "This is another challenging piece where people said it was too complicated — but even in low-resource settings we can provide support so people can adhere to treatments."
UW Hospital clinical pharmacist Michael Madalon lent his expertise to the discussion regarding the technical development of antiretroviral (ARV) treatments. In several training trips to Uganda, Madalon said, he witnessed the dramatic results of successful drug therapy specifically in 1996.
The clinical training program in Uganda was organized three years ago to aid in the fight against the pandemic.
"In the U.S. everything is covered by insurance or aid; that's not the case in other countries of course," Madalon said. "So around 2003 our clinic decided to do something for those not as fortunate as we are."
Madalon explained less expensive fixed dose combinations are created through a mixture of several drugs in one tablet to reduce the number of pills per day.
According to Haq, these important medical breakthroughs can be as successful as cutting the chances of mother-to-child transition in half with a single dose.
While technological breakthroughs have continued to develop since 1983, when the disease was first identified, other factors have limited its containment.
In particular, patent regulation and international trade requirements have played an important role.
UW law professor Heinz Klug spoke about the pharmaceutical patent system and history of drug administration in South Africa.
According the Klug, the worldwide patent protection system changed dramatically in the 1990s, as well as developing from a problem of price to a problem of sustainability.
"Globally, before 1994, how you delivered drugs in your country was your country's business," Klug said. "After 1994, with the founding of World Trade Organization, there was TRIPS (Trade-Related aspects of Intellectual Property Rights), which set a militant standard around the world with patents."
Worldwide legislation, including TRIPS-Plus, since 2005 has also furthered the intellectual property debate, according to Klug.
UW senior Jen Terlinden said the issue is interesting and should be addressed by global governments.
"It's a big deal talking about drugs being intellectual property, or a right for everyone," Terlinden said. "It needs to be addressed politically."
SGAC lead coordinator Katherine Guerra said she was satisfied with the presentation and looks to the future for students to become more informed on AIDS topics.
"I think the biggest thing is getting the word out and educating your friends," she said. "Encourage your friends to get tested and to stay safe — stay informed about the worldwide issues."
World AIDS Week events continue today at 9 a.m. in Library Mall with several events, and workshops at the Pyle center from 3 to 6 p.m. The weeklong series concludes at Memorial Union tomorrow at 7 p.m. with an activism concert featuring both Tangled Up in Blue and the Madhatters.