HIV treatment is now cheap, a year's worth of medication is available for just ₹3,500, and is 99.9% effective.

 

Unitaid and the Gates Foundation have announced that from 2027, generic HIV medicine will be made available in more than 100 countries at a price of $40 (about Rs 3,500) annually.
A cheap HIV prevention drug will soon be available at a very affordable price in more than 100 countries. United and the Gates Foundation announced on Wednesday that starting in 2027, the generic drug will be made available at a price of $40 (about Rs 3,500) annually in more than 100 countries, most of which will be low- and middle-income countries.

Two injections will be given in a year
This injectable drug, lenacapavir, must be taken twice a year. It has been proven to reduce HIV infection by 99.9 percent. A branded version of this drug, Yeztugo, is sold in the United States and costs approximately $28,000 (approximately Rs. 2.5 million).
Indian companies will make the medicine
To make this drug affordable for poor and middle-income countries, Unitaid and the Gates Foundation have entered into separate agreements with Indian pharmaceutical companies. Unitaid has partnered with Dr. Reddy's Laboratories to make this drug available in 120 countries at a cost of $40 (approximately Rs. 3,548) per person per year. Similar agreements have been reached with the Clinton Health Access Initiative and Wits RHI. The Gates Foundation has also entered into a similar partnership with the Indian pharmaceutical company Hetero.

Agreement with 6 generic drug companies 
Last October, California-based Gilead struck a deal with six generic drug companies to allow the world's first long-acting anti-HIV drug, known as pre-exposure prophylaxis or PrEP, to be manufactured and sold in poor countries. 
Medicine will soon be available in African countries
Carmen Perez Casa, United's strategic lead, said the drug will initially be manufactured in India. "We are also working to expand its production to the regional level," she said. Until these generic drugs become available, the American company Gilead has already signed an agreement with the Global Fund to provide the drug at affordable prices in some African countries. 

Decrease in new HIV cases 
Joint efforts by many countries have reduced new HIV cases by 40% since 2010. However, according to UNAIDS, 1.3 million people will be infected with HIV in 2024. Experts believe that affordable and effective medications can further reduce the number of HIV cases.