Russian to double spending on HIV care next year

Russia's health minister says Russia will double its spending on HIV care and prevention next year.

Veronika Skvortsova said on Friday that the Russian budget will allocate more than $600 million next year in the face of a growing epidemic

Skvortsova earlier this week raised the alarm about the HIV epidemic in Russia, saying that it would spiral out of control by the end of decade if the funding for treatment is not raised. She said that with the current funding the government can provide care for less than a quarter of HIV-positive patients in Russia.

HIV treatment became less affordable in Russia after a number of NGOs had to suspend their operations in order to comply with a Russian law clamping down on organizations receiving foreign funding.

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