What do you do when costs reach epidemic proportions?

Name:
Instructor:
Institution:
Date:
1. Research the current budget and policies of the South African government on dealing with the epidemic. How are they currently handling the issue?
The main policy relates to the provision of Pre-exposure Prophylysis (PreP) to people at high risk of infection and the implementation of “test and treat” guidelines. Prep has already been freely availed to sex workers and the government is contemplating to do the same with young women. On the other hand, people who are tested are offered free treatment in case they are HIV-positive. “Test and Treat” policy has proved to be effective because 87% of the citizens know their HIV status. Combined, the two policies have enabled the country to have the largest ART programme in the world making the first 90-90-90 target a possibility (Ellman, 2018).
Since 2015, the government has been spending more than $1.34 billion annually to facilitate the numerous HIV/AIDs programs. However, in 2016, there was 7.7 million of people living with HIV/AIDs while 2017 witnessed 71, 000 deaths due to HIV/AIDs (Simbayi, 2017). As a response to the huge number HIV related deaths, the government decided that it will be spending additional $66 million annually to provide HIV treatment to all people. The $1.34 billion budget is partly incurred by the government while a huge portion is paid by the U.S and U.K. However, the additional $66 million is solely paid the government.
2. Discuss the pros and cons of the pharmaceutical industry assisting the South African government in addressing the HIV/AIDS issue.
It is very difficult for the government to combat HIV/AIDs on its own. The process requires drugs, transportation, distribution, injection, and counselling. As a result, a major advantage from the assistance provided by the pharmaceutical industry is that drugs will be provided at low prices. Because the government purchases ART drugs in large quantity, distribution and delivery will be either free or at a cheap price. In ...