title: Access to second-line antiretroviral therapeutic regimens in low-resource settings: experiences from Cameroon.
abstract: Cameroon is one of the few sub-Saharan countries engaged in the implementation of a universal public health policy on HIV/AIDS. In May 2007, second-line antiretroviral regimens were made available in the country; thanks to the joint participation of the Cameroonian government and the UNITAID/Clinton Foundation HIV/AIDS Initiative. This cooperation was achieved by means of a Memorandum of Understanding. The agreement aimed at providing free-of-charge access of 8 antiretroviral formulations. Nevertheless, only 1.9% of the estimated 16% patients that are presently in need of second-line regimens has access to these medicines. The main hindrances to achieving scaled-up access refer to the new institutional arrangements that are necessary for the demand and distribution of these medicines, the limiting conditions for the therapeutic monitoring of second-line treatments, at the national level and the governance of the Memorandum of Understanding itself.
authors.affiliation: CEPN-CNRS, Université Paris 13 Nord, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: d'Almeida
authors.forename: Marie-José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Essi
authors.forename: Mamadou
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Camara
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Coriat
mesh_terms: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002163:Cameroon; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015276:Health Care Rationing; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents