Transcript (.pdf)

For more information on this session, including access to speaker presentations, please see the conference Programme-at-a-Glance.

Recent guidelines are all recommending that HIV treatment be started at a higher CD4 count because of issues such as the ongoing damage caused by HIV itself, and prevention of transmission. Issues in long-term treatment, such as potential side effects, the development of resistance, the cost and sustainability of programmes in resource-poor settings, are some of the potential problems for such a strategy. This session will debate, in a courtroom type setting, the pros and cons of early initiation and will highlight the areas of controversy and agreement. It will be an opportunity for patient groups and community to debate with clinicians and scientists the need to start early.

Presentations in This Session:

Scientific Perspective From a Developed Country
Presented by Steven Deek (United States)
Professor of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF)

Scientific Perspective From a Developing Country
Peter Mugyenyi (Uganda)
Director and Founder, Joint Clinical Research Center Kampala, Uganda

Community Perspective

Policy Perspective
Presented by Mark Harrington (United States)
Executive Director of the Treatement Action Group (TAG)

Funding Perspective
Presented by Ambassador Eric Goosby (United States)
U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator, U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)
U.S. Government engagement with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria

Questions and Answers

Conclusions

Starting HAART: When to Take the First Step? (.mp3)