Improving Access to Anti-Retroviral Treatment in Cambodia

Cambodia is often cited as an example of how an effective multi-sectoral response to HIV, with strong political commitment and effective co-operation between government, nongovernmental organisations (NGOs), and international organisations, can impact on the spread of infection. Cambodia has an HIV/AIDS prevalence of 2.6% in the adult population (15-49 years). Government data indicates that HIV prevalence rates in some of the populations under surveillance appear to be declining. However, the current data indicates that HIV/AIDS is not uniformly distributed throughout the country and numbers of cases of AIDS and AIDS-related deaths continue to increase.

This report, building on the strengths of Khmer HIV/AIDS NGO Alliance (KHANA) and its partners, focuses on the current and future opportunities for KHANA, and other NGOs, to support access to ARV treatment for people with HIV. Recommendations are given with regard to use of existing sources of ARV, sources for increasing availability of ARV, and models for provision of ARV most likely to bring broad benefits to patients, as well as to prevention efforts, and to the health system in general.