Adopted by the WMA General Assembly, Pilanesberg, South Africa, October 2006

MINDFUL that the WMA Statement on HIV/AIDS and the Medical Profession was adopted at the WMA General Assembly in Pilanesberg, Republic of South Africa, on 14 October 2006; and

RECOGNIZING the alarming statistic from UNAIDS that some 37-38 million people worldwide are infected with HIV, with the number increasing daily, and that 60% percent of them live in sub-Saharan Africa; and

NOTING that there exist evidence-based methods for preventing the spread of the infection and also for life-prolonging treatment; therefore

The WMA urges governments to work closely with health professionals and their representative organizations to identify and implement the critical steps to ensure

1. that all efforts are made to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS;
   
2. that the diagnosis, counselling and treatment of patients for HIV/AIDS is undertaken only by appropriately trained physicians and other healthcare personnel, according to established evidence-based principles;
   
3. that patients be given accurate, relevant and comprehensive information to enable them to make informed decisions about their health care treatment; and
   
4. that barriers preventing people from coming forward for testing and treatment be identified and eliminated.

The WMA calls on National Medical Associations to use this resolution in their advocacy efforts to their governments, their patients and the public.

14.10.2006