Ensuring Kazakhstan’s national response to HIV, Hep C and TB is ‘fit-for-purpose’ and affordable.
An estimated 27,000 people are living with HIV in Kazakhstan. According to UNAIDS, new HIV infections have increased by 39% since 2010 and AIDS-related deaths have increased by 32%. 11,000 people are on treatment, meaning there is a significant treatment gap, with 57% of the rising number of people awaiting treatment.
Kazakhstan’s government has committed to providing HIV, TB and Hepatitis treatment free of charge for everyone in need. However, a lack of competition has paved the route for high prices – a key reason for the treatment gaps.
Our focus
Our campaign partner in Kazakhstan, Answer, is focused on reducing the price of key medicines.
Progress to date includes:
- Civil society, including Answer, were involved in negotiations that saw ViiV Healthcare reduce the price for dolutegravir (DTG). 1,576 patients, of the 11,000 receiving HIV treatment are accessing DTG-based regimens. Answer would like to see the price reduce further, and the number of people accessing DTG therefore increase (price information to follow).
- Kazakhstan’s Hep C elimination programme started in 2018, which saw almost 19,000 patients treated in the same year.
- Civil society has been actively involved in HIV and Hep C procurement and provision monitoring and advocacy. Sofosbuvir and daclatasvir has been available through the elimination programme. Largely thanks to the efforts of the civil society, the current price (generics procured through international agencies) is around $100 for a three-month course.
Answer’s priorities include:
- Continuing to invest in strategies that reduce the price of optimal treatment regimens, and providing recommendations for treatment and procurement. This includes working on price reduction with pharmaceutical companies.
- Directly challenging unmerited patents at all stages: Pre-patent, by ensuring the patent examination process is fit-for-purpose; opposing unmerited patents; and advocating to revoke patents that shouldn’t have been approved.
- Continue to support the Hep C elimination program, collaborating with community and government.
Last updated February 2019.
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