History
The organisation of the HIV in Europe initiative is directed by an independent group of experts which has come together to work for optimal testing and earlier care for HIV in Europe.
The problems associated with HIV in Europe are varied: the rate of reported HIV infection in Europe virtually doubled between 1998 and 2005; transmission routes are changing, with migration playing a more important role in the spread of HIV; important human rights issues affect equality of access to testing and care; and the majority of people infected with HIV are unaware of their serostatus. A single solution to address these challenges does not exist.
HIV in Europe started off in Brussels in 2007 with a pan-European conference entitled “HIV in Europe 2007: Working together for optimal testing and earlier care". The conference gathered more than 300 key European stakeholders in HIV from the Europe WHO region, including advocates, clinicians and public health professionals. In November 2009, a follow-up meeting was held under the Swedish Presidency of the European Union.
See Conferences for more information and materials from the 2007 and 2009 Conferences.
Work
HIV in Europe makes room for sharing best practices, making commitments and taking action. We must increase our focus on reducing HIV infection rates by ensuring that people already infected with HIV are made aware of their status and symptoms, facilitating access to social support before and after testing, and ensuring appropriate and early access to care, including treatment.
In early 2009, 5 project proposals were approved by the Steering Committee. See Ongoing Projects.
Funding
Unrestricted funding provided by Gilead Sciences, Merck, Tibotec, Pfizer, Schering-Plough, Abbott, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, GlaxoSmithKline, ViiV Healthcare and the Swedish Research Council.
The initiative is governed by an independent Steering Committee.
Coordinating Centre, University of Copenhagen
Political secretariat, EATG
Financial administration, AIDS Fond Netherlands.
The conditions of funding the initiative are approved by the Steering Committee. Industry sponsors are invited to quarterly updates but do not participate in the Steering Committee.
Future
The HIV in Europe initiative will continue to work for a strengtened collaboration in order to improve the evidence base to address important issues around earlier testing and optimal care and to find ways to share knowledge and experiences across European borders.