Boston, MA -- In 2006, almost $8.9 billion has been allocated to finance the global response to AIDS, but it falls short of the needed $14.9 billion, according to UNAIDS. National governments, especially those hardest hit by the epidemic, must meet the challenge of maximizing treatment and prevention strategies for the welfare of their citizens given finite economic and social resources. The HIV/AIDS Interventions in Developing Countries: Using Cost Benefit and Cost Effectiveness Analysis to Help Guide Policy and Action conference will attempt to address these issues.
The conference, which will be held Wednesday, September 13 to Friday, September 15, 2006 in Boston, will gather field practitioners, government officials in developing countries, and leading researchers in health economics, infectious diseases, and public policy to discuss how economic evaluation tools can be used to create locally appropriate solutions. Participants will also address crucial policy issues and recommend how economic evaluation can inform policy decisions.
The conference will be hosted by the Harvard School of Public Health and Dean Barry R. Bloom. Joy Phumaphi, Assistant Director-General of Family and Community Health of the World Health Organization will give opening remarks on Wednesday, September 13. Dr. Peter Piot, Executive Director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS will give a keynote speech on Thursday, September 14.
Dr. Richard Marlink, professor of the practice of public health at Harvard School of Public Health, who is the lead organizer of the conference said, "This Harvard-wide conference will be a landmark meeting for researchers and policymakers to meet in person and constructively discuss major HIV/AIDS and costing issues that both parties grapple with in their work. Over these two days, we will work together to develop adaptable economic models that will ultimately help individuals and communities affected by HIV arou
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Contact: Robin Herman
rherman@hsph.harvard.edu
617-432-4752
Harvard School of Public Health
8-Sep-2006