Taiwan Health Agency Warns of Growing Cost of HIV Therapy

Chen Chang-hsun, a division director at Taiwan's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), stated at a public hearing on the agency's HIV therapy program, that the cost of free HIV treatment is putting pressure on the budget. Chen explained that the funding for HIV treatment rose from New Taiwan (NT) $1.37 billion (approximately US $47 million) and 23 percent of the overall budget in 2007 to NT $2.69 billion (approximately US $92 million), or 45 percent of its budget in 2011. Expenses for HIV treatment in 2011 is expected to reach NT $2.9 billion (approximately US $99 million), or 53 percent of the budget. Chou Jih-haw, deputy director-general, noted that the increase in spending on HIV has limited the funding available for other programs, such as