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Highest Spender on HIV/AIDS: United States

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Highest Spender on HIV/AIDS: United States

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In 2020, the U.S. spent around $4.9 billion dollars on HIV/AIDS treatment, prevention, and many other necessary protections for global health, despite it not having a high prevalence of HIV/AIDS.

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Global health funding for HIV/AIDS prevention was around $1.4 billion dollars in 2020, which was the second highest next to treatments

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Today, more tools than ever are available to prevent HIV. You can use strategies such as abstinence (not having sex), never sharing needles, and using condoms the right way every time you have sex. You may also be able to take advantage of HIV prevention medicines such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). If you have HIV, there are many actions you can take to prevent transmitting HIV to others.

This section answers some of the most common questions about HIV prevention.

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Today, more tools than ever are available to prevent HIV. You can use strategies such as abstinence (not having sex), never sharing needles, and using condoms the right way every time you have sex. You may also be able to take advantage of HIV prevention medicines such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).

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HIV/AIDS treatment received the most global funding, round out to around $2.3 billion dollars in 2020.

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What is HIV treatment?

HIV treatment (antiretroviral therapy or ART) involves taking medicine as prescribed by a health care provider. HIV treatment reduces the amount of HIV in your body and helps you stay healthy.

There is no cure for HIV, but you can control it with HIV treatment.

Most people can get the virus under control within six months.

HIV treatment does not prevent transmission of other sexually transmitted diseases.

When should I start HIV treatment?

Start HIV treatment as soon as possible after diagnosis.

All people with HIV should take HIV treatment, no matter how long they've had HIV or how healthy they are.

Talk to your health care provider about any medical conditions or other medicines you are taking.

What if I delay HIV treatment?

If you delay treatment, HIV will continue to harm your immune system. Delaying treatment will put you at higher risk for transmitting HIV to your partners, getting sick, and developing AIDS.

Are there different types of HIV treatment?

There are two types of HIV treatment: pills and shots.

Pills are recommended for people who are just starting HIV treatment. There are many FDA-approved single pill and combination medicines available.

People who have had an undetectable viral load (or have been virally suppressed) for at least three months may consider shots.

What are HIV treatment shots?

HIV treatment shots are long-acting injections used to treat people with HIV. The shots are given by your health care provider and require routine office visits. HIV treatment shots are given once a month or once every other month, depending on your treatment plan.

Can I switch my HIV treatment from pills to shots?

Talk to your health care provider about changing your HIV treatment plan. Shots may be right for you if you are an adult with HIV who

has an undetectable viral load (or has achieved viral suppression),

has no history of treatment failure, and

has no known allergy to the medicines in the shot.

If you and your health care provider decide to switch your HIV treatment from pills to shots, you'll need to visit your provider regularly to receive your shots. Tell your health care provider as soon as possible if you've missed or plan to miss an appointment for your shot.

What are the benefits of taking my HIV treatment as prescribed?

HIV treatment reduces the amount of HIV in the blood (viral load).

Taking your HIV medicine as prescribed will help keep your viral load low.

HIV treatment can make the viral load very low (viral suppression). Viral suppression means having less than 200 copies of HIV per milliliter of blood.

HIV treatment can make the viral load so low that a test can't detect it (undetectable viral load).

If your viral load goes down after starting HIV treatment, that means treatment is working. Continue to take your HIV treatment as prescribed.

If you skip your HIV treatment, even now and then, you are giving HIV the chance to multiply rapidly. This could weaken your immune system, and you could become sick.

Getting and keeping an undetectable viral load (or staying virally suppressed) is the best way to stay healthy and protect others.

HIV treatment prevents transmission to others.

If you have an undetectable viral load, you will not transmit HIV through sex.

Having an undetectable viral load likely reduces the risk of HIV transmission through sharing needles, syringes, or other injection equipment (for example, cookers), but we don't know by how much.

Having an undetectable viral load also prevents perinatal transmission. If a person with HIV takes their HIV medicine as prescribed throughout pregnancy and childbirth and gives HIV treatment to their baby for 4 to 6 weeks after birth, the risk of transmission can be 1% or less.

Having an undetectable viral load greatly reduces the risk of transmitting HIV through breastfeeding but doesn't eliminate the risk. The current recommendation in the United States is that parents with HIV should not breastfeed their babies.

Taking your HIV medicine as prescribed helps prevent drug resistance.

Drug resistance develops when people with HIV don't take their pills as prescribed or miss their shots. The virus can change (mutate) and may limit your options for successful HIV treatment.

If you develop drug resistance, it will limit your options for successful HIV treatment.

Drug-resistant strains of HIV can be transmitted to others.

Does HIV treatment cause side effects?

HIV treatment can cause side effects in some people. However, not everyone experiences side effects. The most common side effects are

Nausea and vomiting

Diarrhea

Difficulty sleeping

Dry mouth

Headache

Rash

Dizziness

Fatigue

Temporary pain at the injection site (for shots)

Talk to your health care provider if your HIV treatment makes you sick. Your health care provider may prescribe additional medicines to help manage the side effects or may change your HIV treatment plan.

What should I do if I'm thinking about having a baby?
Let your health care provider know if you or your partner is pregnant or thinking about getting pregnant. They will determine the right type of HIV treatment to help prevent passing HIV to your baby.

Can I take birth control while on HIV treatment?
You can use any method of birth control to prevent pregnancy. However, some HIV treatment may make hormone-based birth control less effective. Talk to your health care provider about which method of birth control is right for you.

Will HIV treatment interfere with my hormone therapy?
Most HIV treatment can be used safely with gender-affirming or menopausal hormone therapy and testosterone replacement therapy. However, side effects may occur. Talk to your health care provider about taking HIV treatment and hormone therapy at the same time. Your health care provider will monitor any side effects and help make sure your HIV treatment and hormone therapy stay on track.

What if my HIV treatment is not working?

Your health care provider may change your type of HIV treatment.

A change is not unusual because the same HIV treatment does not affect everyone in the same way.

Sticking to my HIV treatment plan is hard. How can I deal with the challenges?

Tell your health care provider right away if you're having trouble sticking to your plan. Together you can identify the reasons you're skipping HIV treatment and decide how to address those reasons.

Talk to your health care provider about problems taking your HIV treatment.

Problems taking pills. This can make staying on this type of HIV treatment challenging. Your health care provider can offer tips for addressing these problems, including switching to an injectable HIV treatment option.

Side effects. Nausea or diarrhea can make a person not want to continue their HIV treatment. There are medicines or other support, like nutritional counseling, to make sure you're getting important nutrients. This can help with the most common side effects.

HIV treatment fatigue. Some people find that sticking to their HIV treatment plan becomes harder over time. Make it a point to talk to your health care provider about staying on your plan.

A busy schedule. Work or travel away from home can make it easy to forget to take pills or miss a shot. It may be possible to keep extra pills at work or in your car. But talk to your health care provider first as extreme temperatures can affect some medicine.

Talk to your health care provider if you miss doses of your HIV treatment.

Missing a dose of pills. In most cases, you can take your pills as soon as you realize you missed a dose. Then take the next dose at your usually scheduled time (unless your pharmacist or health care provider has told you otherwise).

Missing a shot. If you missed an appointment for your shot, talk to your health care provider about receiving your next shot.

Missing doses. Talk to your health care provider or pharmacist about ways to help you remember your HIV treatment. Your health care provider may even decide to change your treatment to fit your needs and life situation.
Find help for mental health or substance use disorders.

Being sick or depressed. How you feel mentally and physically can affect your ability to stick to your HIV treatment plan. Your health care provider, social worker, or case manager can refer you to a mental health provider or local support group.

Substance use (drug or alcohol). If substance use is interfering with your ability to keep yourself healthy, it may be time to find help.

Join a support group or ask your family and friends for support. They can help you stick to your treatment plan.

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What is HIV treatment? HIV treatment (antiretroviral therapy or ART) involves taking medicine as prescribed by a health care provider. HIV treatment reduces the amount of HIV in your body and helps you stay healthy. There is no cure for HIV, but you can control it with HIV treatment.

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In 2020, global health funding for HIV/AIDS amounted to around $9 billion dollars.

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Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation

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Explore patterns of global health financing flows from 1990 to 2050 with interactive bar charts, maps, and line graphs. Compare spending on HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, and all causes.

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These regions have approximately 240,000 people living with HIV/AIDS.

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The Caribbean has approximately only 330,000 people living with HIV/AIDS.

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Regions with Lowest Rates of People Living with HIV/AIDS

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Regions with Lowest Rates of People Living with HIV/AIDS

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While South Africa tops out at 7.5 million people living with HIV/AIDS, other regions only have a few hundred thousand people living with HIV/AIDS

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Highest Prevalence of HIV/AIDS: Eswatini

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Highest Prevalence of HIV/AIDS: Eswatini

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Eswatini has the highest prevalence of HIV/AIDS in their population; their statistics round up to around 27%.

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Population with the Most People Living with HIV/AIDS: South Africa

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Population with the Most People Living with HIV/AIDS: South Africa

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With more than 7.5 million people living with HIV/AIDS, South Africa has the population with the highest number of individuals living with HIV/AIDS.

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Sub-Sahara Africa has the highest rates of people living with HIV/AIDS, consisting of 2/3 of the world's population living with HIV/AIDS

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Key Facts

HIV, the virus that causes AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome), is one of the world's most serious health and development challenges. Approximately 38 million people are currently living with HIV, and tens of millions of people have died of AIDS-related causes since the beginning of the epidemic.

Many people living with HIV or at risk for HIV infection do not have access to prevention, treatment, and care, and there is still no cure.

In recent decades, major global efforts have been mounted to address the epidemic, and despite challenges, significant progress has been made in addressing HIV.

Under Sustainable Development Goal 3, the global community agreed to aim to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030. However, while gains have been made, they have been uneven, and the interim "90-90-90" targets were missed. A U.N. high-level meeting reviewing progress toward the 2030 goals will take place in June 2021.

The U.S. government (U.S.), through PEPFAR (the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief), is the single largest donor to international HIV efforts in the world, including the largest donor to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund).

As COVID-19 continues to spread globally, its detrimental effects on HIV/AIDS efforts worldwide have already been seen, including disruptions of essential health services, such as testing, treatment, and prevention programs.

Global Response

HIV, the virus that causes AIDS (see box), has become one of the world's most serious health and development challenges since the first cases were reported in 1981. Approximately 76 million people have become infected with HIV since the start of the epidemic. Today, there are approximately 38 million people currently living with HIV, and tens of millions of people have died of AIDS-related causes since the beginning of the epidemic.

HIV: A virus that is transmitted through certain body fluids and weakens the immune system by destroying cells that fight disease and infection, specifically CD4 cells (often called T cells). Left untreated, HIV reduces the number of CD4 cells in the body, making it more difficult for the immune system to fight off infections and other diseases. HIV can lead to the development of AIDS, "acquired immunodeficiency syndrome."

Over the past two decades, in particular, major global efforts have been mounted to address the epidemic, and significant progress has been made. The number of people newly infected with HIV, especially children, and the number of AIDS-related deaths have declined over the years, and the number of people with HIV receiving treatment increased to 25.4 million in 2019.

Still, remaining challenges continue to complicate HIV control efforts. Many people living with HIV or at risk for HIV infection do not have access to prevention, treatment, and care, and there is still no cure. HIV primarily affects those in their most productive years, and it not only affects the health of individuals, but also impacts households, communities, and the development and economic growth of nations. Many of the countries hardest hit by HIV also face serious challenges due to other infectious diseases, food insecurity, and additional global health and development problems. In addition, as COVID-19 continues to spread globally, its detrimental effects on the HIV/AIDS response in low- and middle-income countries have already been seen, including disruptions in access to antiretroviral medicines and preventive services. While the full impact of COVID-19 on HIV services and progress remains to be seen, it is estimated that such interruptions could result in many more additional HIV-related deaths.

Latest Estimates

Global prevalence among adults (the percent of people ages 15-49 who are infected) has leveled since 2001 and was 0.7% in 2019 (see Figure 1).

There were 38 million people living with HIV in 2019 (see Table 1), up from 30.7 million in 2010, the result of continuing new infections and people living longer with HIV. Of the people living with HIV in 2018, 36.2 million were adults and 1.8 million were children under age 15.

Although HIV testing capacity has increased over time, enabling more people to learn their HIV status, about one in five people with HIV (19%) are still unaware they are infected.

Although there have been significant declines in new infections since the mid-1990s, there were still about 1.7 million new infections in 2019, or about 5,000 new infections per day. Recent data show that while progress has been made, that progress is unequal within and between countries. Furthermore, the pace of decline varies by age group, sex, and region.

HIV remains a leading cause of death worldwide and the leading cause of death globally among women of reproductive age. However, AIDS-related deaths have declined, due in part to antiretroviral treatment (ART) scale-up. 690,000 people died of AIDS in 2019, a 37% decrease from 1.1 million in 2010 and a 59% decrease from the peak of 1.7 million in 2004.

Affected Areas

Sub-Saharan Africa, with more than two-thirds of all people living with HIV globally, is the hardest hit region in the world, followed by Asia and the Pacific (see Table 1). The Caribbean as well as Eastern Europe and Central Asia are also heavily affected.

Eastern and Southern Africa. An estimated 20.7 million people are living with HIV in Eastern and Southern Africa, more than half (54%) of all people living with HIV. Two-thirds of children living with HIV (67%) are found in this region. Despite the significant impact, new infections in the region have declined by 38% since 2010. Almost all of the region's nations have generalized HIV epidemics - that is, their national HIV prevalence is greater than 1%. South Africa has the highest number of people living with HIV in the world (7.5 million). Eswatini (formerly known as Swaziland) has the highest prevalence in the world (27%).

Western and Central Africa. An estimated 4.9 million people are living with HIV in Western and Central Africa. New HIV infections among adults declined by 25% between 2010 and 2019. Women and girls account for 58% of the estimated 240,000 new HIV infections in the region. Another issue facing the region is coverage of antiretroviral therapy for pregnant women, which has been declining in recent years (from 62% in 2016 to 58% in 2019).

Asia and the Pacific. An estimated 5.8 million people are living with HIV in Asia and the Pacific. The region's annual number of new HIV infections declined by 12% since 2010. However, trends vary from country to country, and the decline in the region may obscure increases in some countries. The region is also home to the two most populous nations in the world - China and India - and even relatively low prevalence translates into large numbers of people.

Western and Central Europe and North America. An estimated 2.2 million people are living with HIV in this region. High coverage of ART plays a key role in the reduction of AIDS-related deaths in the region; since 2010, the number of AIDS-related deaths decreased by 40%. 4 in 5 people living with HIV (81%) are on treatment, and 2 in 3 people living with HIV (67%) are virally suppressed.

Latin America. An estimated 2.1 million people are living with HIV in Latin America. Between 2010 and 2019, new HIV infections increased by 21% while the number of AIDS-related deaths fell by 8% in the region overall. In 2019, 40% of new HIV infections in Latin America occurred in Brazil, which has the greatest number of people living with the disease (920,000) in the region.

Eastern Europe and Central Asia. An estimated 1.7 million people are living with HIV in this region, including 170,000 newly infected in 2019. New HIV infections in the region increased by 72% and AIDS-related deaths increased by 24% between 2010 and 2019. Most of the new infections (99%) in the region are among key populations and their sexual partners, including 48% of infections occurring among people who inject drugs.

The Caribbean. An estimated 330,000 people are living with HIV in the Caribbean. The number of people living with HIV on treatment more than doubled since 2010 (from 68,000 in 2010 to approximately 210,000 in 2019). However, the percentage of people living with HIV who have suppressed viral loads in the region (50%) is below the global average (59%).

Middle East and North Africa. An estimated 240,000 people are living with HIV in the Middle East and North Africa. New infections increased by 25% from 2010 to 2019, while AIDS-related deaths remained stable. Treatment coverage among people living with HIV in this region is 38%, the lowest of any region.

Affected/Vulnerable Populations

Most HIV infections are transmitted heterosexually, although risk factors vary. In some countries, men who have sex with men, people who inject drugs, sex workers, transgender people, and prisoners are disproportionally affected by HIV.

Women represent over half (55%) of all adults (15-49 years) living with HIV worldwide, and HIV (along with complications related to pregnancy) is the leading cause of death among women of reproductive age. Gender inequalities, differential access to service, and sexual violence increase women's vulnerability to HIV, and women, especially younger women, are biologically more susceptible to HIV.

Young people, ages 15-24, account for approximately a third of new HIV infections, and in some areas, young women are disproportionally impacted. In sub-Saharan Africa, among adults age 15 and older, young women ages 15-24 accounted for 19% of new HIV infections in the region in 2019.

Globally, children account for 1.8 million people living with HIV; among children, there were 95,000 AIDS-related deaths and 150,000 new infections in 2019. Since 2010, new HIV infections among children have declined by 52%.

HIV & TB

HIV has led to a resurgence of tuberculosis (TB), particularly in Africa, and TB is a leading cause of death for people with HIV worldwide. In 2019, approximately 9% of new TB cases occurred in people living with HIV. However, between 2000 and 2019, TB deaths in people living with HIV declined substantially, largely due to the scale up of joint HIV/TB services. (See the KFF fact sheet on TB.)

Prevention and Treatment

Numerous prevention interventions exist to combat HIV, and new tools such as vaccines, are currently being researched.

Effective prevention strategies include behavior change programs, condoms, HIV testing, blood supply safety, harm reduction efforts for injecting drug users, and male circumcision.

Additionally, recent research has shown that engagement in HIV treatment not only improves individual health outcomes but also significantly reduces the risk of transmission (referred to as "treatment as prevention" or TasP). Those with undetectable viral loads (known as being virally suppressed) have effectively no risk of transmitting HIV sexually.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has also been shown to be an effective HIV prevention strategy in individuals at high risk for HIV infection. In 2015, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended PrEP as a form of prevention for high-risk individuals in combination with other prevention methods. Further, in 2016, the U.N. Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS stated PrEP research and development should be accelerated.

Experts recommend that prevention be based on "knowing your epidemic" (tailoring prevention to the local context and epidemiology), using a combination of prevention strategies, bringing programs to scale, and sustaining efforts over time. Access to prevention, however, remains limited, and there have been renewed calls for the strengthening of prevention efforts.

HIV treatment includes the use of combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) to attack the virus itself, and medications to prevent and treat the many opportunistic infections that can occur when the immune system is compromised by HIV. In light of recent research findings, WHO released a guideline in 2015 recommending starting HIV treatment earlier in the course of illness.

Combination ART, first introduced in 1996, has led to dramatic reductions in morbidity and mortality, and access has increased in recent years, rising to 25.4 million people (67% of people living with HIV) in 2019.

The percentage of pregnant women receiving ART for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV increased to 85% in 2019, up from 45% in 2010.

Access to ART among children has more than doubled since 2010, with treatment coverage rising from 18% in 2010 to 53% in 2019.

Approximately 59% of all people living with HIV are virally suppressed, which means they are likely healthier and less likely to transmit the virus. Viral suppression varies greatly by region, key population, and sex.

Global Goals

International efforts to combat HIV began in the first decade of the epidemic with the creation of the WHO's Global Programme on AIDS in 1987. Over time, new initiatives and financing mechanisms have helped increase attention to HIV and contributed to efforts to achieve global goals; these include:

the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), which was formed in 1996 to serve as the U.N. system's coordinating body and to help galvanize worldwide attention to HIV/AIDS; and

the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund), which was established in 2001 by a U.N. General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on HIV/AIDS as an independent, international financing institution that provides grants to countries to address HIV, TB, and malaria (see the KFF fact sheet on the Global Fund).

The contributions of affected country governments and civil society have also been critical to the response. These and other efforts work toward achieving major global HIV/AIDS goals that have been set through:

the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Adopted in 2015, the SDGs aim to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030 under SDG Goal 3, which is to "ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages." The SDGs are the successor to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which included an HIV target under MDG 6: to halt and begin to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS by 2015 and achieve universal access to treatment for HIV/AIDS by 2010. As of 2015, the AIDS-related targets of MDGs were met.

UNAIDS targets to end the epidemic by 2030. On World AIDS Day 2014, UNAIDS set targets aimed at ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030. To achieve this, countries had been working toward reaching the interim "90-90-90" targets - 90% of people living with HIV knowing their HIV status; 90% of people who know their HIV positive status on treatment; and 90% of people on treatment with suppressed viral loads-by 2020. However, gains that were achieved in some countries and regions were unequal, and these targets were missed. Based on the 2019 data and trends (the latest data available), 81% of people living with HIV knew their status; among those who knew their status, 82% were accessing treatment; and among those accessing treatment, 88% were virally suppressed. The focus now is on reaching "95-95-95" (or, 95% of people living with HIV knowing their HIV status; 95% of people who know their HIV positive status on treatment; and 95% of people on treatment with suppressed viral loads). Additional interim targets have also been set for 2025, which place a greater emphasis on societal aspects and social services to address the inequalities of HIV.

At the June 2016 U.N. General Assembly High-Level Meeting on Ending AIDS, world leaders adopted a new Political Declaration that reaffirmed commitments and called for an intensification of efforts to end AIDS by 2030.In 2017, a report of the U.N. Secretary-General emphasized these commitments, calling for the global community to reinvigorate global efforts to respond to AIDS. Another U.N. high-level meeting on HIV/AIDS will take place in June 2021; in addition to reviewing progress toward achievement of the 2030 goal, it will address the impacts of COVID-19.

Global Resources

UNAIDS estimates that $19.8 billion was available from all sources (domestic, donor governments, multilaterals, and foundations) to address HIV in low- and middle-income countries in 2019. Of this, donor governments provided $7.8 billion, representing a reduction from the $8 billion in 2018 and nearly the same as the funding levels of a decade ago (see Figure 2). Other governments and organizations that contribute substantially to funding the global response include:

hard-hit countries, which have also provided resources to address their epidemics;

the Global Fund, which has approved over $23 billion for HIV efforts in more than 100 countries to date; and

the private sector, including foundations and corporations, which also plays a major role (the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, for one, has committed more than $3 billion in HIV grants to organizations addressing the epidemic, as well as provided additional funding to the Global Fund).

Looking ahead, UNAIDS estimates at least $26.2 billion will be needed annually by 2020 to meet global targets to end AIDS as a global public health threat by 2030.

U.S. Government Efforts

The U.S. government (U.S.) has been involved in HIV efforts since the 1980s and, today, is the single largest donor to international HIV efforts in the world, including the largest donor to the Global Fund. The U.S. first provided funding to address the global HIV epidemic in 1986. U.S. efforts and funding increased slowly over time through targeted initiatives to address HIV in certain countries in Africa, South Asia, and the Caribbean, but they intensified with the 2003 launch of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which brought significant new attention and funding to address the global HIV epidemic, as well as TB and malaria.

PEPFAR

Created in 2003, PEPFAR is the U.S. government's global effort to combat HIV. As an interagency initiative, PEPFAR involves multiple U.S. departments, agencies, and programs that address the global epidemic, and it is carried out in close coordination with host country governments and other organizations, including multilateral organizations such as the Global Fund and UNAIDS. Collectively, U.S. bilateral activities span more than 50 countries, including countries reached through regional programs in Asia, West Africa, and the Western Hemisphere, with U.S. support for multilateral efforts reaching additional countries. (For more information, see the KFF fact sheet on PEPFAR.)

Since its creation, PEPFAR funding, which includes all bilateral funding for HIV as well as U.S. contributions to the Global Fund and UNAIDS, has totaled more than $100 billion. For FY 2021, Congress appropriated $5.4 billion for bilateral HIV, as well as $45 million for UNAIDS and $1.56 billion for the Global Fund, totaling $7 billion. (See the KFF fact sheets on the U.S. Global Health Budget: HIV/PEPFAR (bilateral funding), the U.S. Global Health Budget: Global Fund, and trends in U.S. federal funding for HIV/AIDS, as well as the KFF budget tracker for more details on historical appropriations for U.S. global HIV/AIDS efforts.)

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HIV, the virus that causes AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome), is one of the world's most serious health and development challenges. Approximately 38 million people are currently living with HIV, and tens of millions of people have died of AIDS-related causes since the beginning of the epidemic.

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Topping off the global health spending, COVID-19 treatments, which includes hospital care and vaccines accumulated to around $1.5 billion dollars in 2020

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COVID-19 services are available to individuals regardless of insurance or immigration status.

Talk to a healthcare professional about treatment options before taking medicine. People have been seriously harmed and even died after taking products not approved for COVID-19, even products approved or prescribed for other uses.

>> Watch the video

Out-of-Hospital Treatment Options for COVID-19

Oral Antiviral Treatments

The FDA authorized two oral antivirals, Pfizer's Paxlovid and Merck's molnupiravir, for the treatment of COVID-19 in certain patients.

Monoclonal Antibody Treatments

COVID-19 monoclonal antibody therapeutics (mAb) are available for people ages 12 years or older who:

Have tested positive for COVID-19 and have had symptoms for 10 days or less

Are at high risk of becoming seriously ill, including those who have been recently exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19.

>> Watch the video

Find Monoclonal Antibody Treatment

People who have had symptoms for 10 days or less should be referred for treatment by their healthcare providers and directed to available infusion locations.

There is no cost to anyone for the antibodies themselves, but there may be treatment fees. If you do not have insurance, ask the facility if there will be a charge.
Find infusion locations
Have symptoms, but no healthcare provider? Call the Combat COVID Monoclonal Antibodies Call Center at 1-877-332-6585.

Clinical Trials

Clinical trials help researchers find better vaccines and medicines for COVID-19. Choosing to join a clinical trial is a personal decision. Talk with your doctor about participating in a clinical trial.

Hospital Treatments for COVID-19

There are treatments for hospitalized patients with severe cases of COVID-19 that have been approved or authorized for emergency use by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Remdesivir is an antiviral drug approved by the FDA for the treatment of COVID-19 in hospitalized adults and hospitalized pediatric patients at least 12 years of age. It works by stopping SARS-CoV-2 from spreading in the body.

The FDA has authorized additional treatments for emergency use, including convalescent plasma and other treatment combinations.

Healthcare providers and scientists are investigating other drugs and treatments that may slow or reduce the virus' growth and spread in the body, as well as to enhance breathing, provide disease-fighting antibodies, and help with other symptoms.

COVID-19 Treatment Resources for Healthcare Providers

Ensuring the Safety and Effectiveness of Treatments

After a public health emergency was declared for the COVID-19 pandemic, it was determined that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) could authorize the emergency use of tests, treatments, and vaccines to reduce suffering, loss of life and restore the health and security of our country.

>> Watch the video

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COVID-19 services are available to individuals regardless of insurance or immigration status. Talk to a healthcare professional about treatment options before taking medicine. People have been seriously harmed and even died after taking products not approved for COVID-19, even products approved or prescribed for other uses.

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COVID-19 testing accounted for $1.1 billion dollars worth of the global health spending for COVID-19 in 2020.

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United States: One of the highest spenders on COVID-19

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United States: One of the highest spenders on COVID-19

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The U.S. was one of the top spenders for COVID-19; spending around $930 million dollars on treatments, testing, and PPE.

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Japan spent around $1.4 billion dollars on COVID-19 relief efforts in 2020, despite not having one of the highest numbers of COVID-19 cases.

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In 2020, $14 billion dollars were spent worldwide to help combat COVID-19.

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Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation

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Explore patterns of global health financing flows from 1990 to 2050 with interactive bar charts, maps, and line graphs. Compare spending on HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, and all causes.

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There are currently around 15 countries that have not had a single report of COVID-19 in their country, which includes Tonga and North Korea.

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These Places Have No Reported COVID-19 Cases

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The number of countries and territories that have no reported cases of COVID-19 shrinks to just a dozen.

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The United States, Brazil, and India have the highest number of COVID-19 cases worldwide.

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Covid map: Coronavirus cases, deaths, vaccinations by country

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Key maps and charts explaining how the virus has spread around the world.

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HIV/AIDS has been around for 20+ years now, still plaguing nations globally.

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The pandemic that is COVID-19 is affecting nations worldwide.