Societal factors influencing HIV-AIDS pharmaceutical response since 1980

HIV AIDS / HIV / AIDS: Societal Influence on Product Development

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) causes AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). This virus interferes with the ability of the body to counter disease causing organisms.

Factors that Affected the response to HIV-AIDs 1980s-present day

There were several factors that influenced the response by the government and the pharmaceutical industry to the emergence of the AIDs virus.

Social Factors

This came out largely in the form of the degree of empowerment. Women were in a system that saw them as less than equal. Factors such as the movement of people within and without countries affected how well the disease was tracked. Many countries were not tracking the disease or did not have systems to survey it and even identify the people who had the highest risk of contracting it. Another social factor was that the youth were uninhibited when it came to talking on sensitive subjects. This was an advantage because the issue of HIV / AIDS could be spoken of and awareness created. However, the disadvantage was that the youth were uninhibited in their engagement in risky behavior towards sex, which could expose them to the disease. Another social issue was that of the Arab/MENA countries which did not advocate for the discussion of sex or any related topics to it freely. Some countries even propagated the idea that HIV / AIDS could only be contracted by the pariahs of society such as those working as prostitutes, those who engaged in homosexual behavior, the drug addicts among others. Yassin (2013), states that this view refused to acknowledge the fact that many seemingly safe, married women were contracting the disease in large numbers.

In the nineties, the number of reported patients with HIV / AIDS was over 300,000 even though it was estimated that the real number approached one million. Through the years, the numbers have increased but so has the life expectancy of these patients. Diagnoses are faster today and treatments have improved greatly. In the U.S.A., there is access to better treatment resulting in higher life expectancy. However sadly, in other parts of the world, over 30 million people still do not have access to these treatments (Nazario, 2014).

Avert (2015) states that with more education, there have been more plans and medical aid provided to those suffering the illness. The PEPFAR (President's Emergency Plan for Aids Relief) was set up by President George W. Bush in the year 2003 to help fight the disease especially in countries which had a large number of infected people. It was a plan for five years budgeted at $15 billion.

Lessons Learnt

Stigma and discrimination have been reduced greatly over the years. However, where it exists it should be dealt with and eliminated. The lesson learnt is that ignoring or ridiculing an issue does not eliminate the issues. They must be dealt with openness, non-discrimination and combined efforts.

Though medical science has made great strides in helping people suffering the disease, at the same time other efforts need to be made to curb the spread of the same. Communities must be collaborative in these efforts and adequate leadership should be provided with a view to stop the spread of the disease (Valdiserri, 2016).

Influencing the development of medical products thenceforth

Medical science has come up with previously unimagined treatments and these have offered a better quality of life for those living with the disease. The virus count can be reduced and its multiplication ceased. This virus is attacked through various treatments and though not removed, it is reduced as well as its impact lowered. Research has greatly advanced and is continuing even today (VA, 2016).