Communities & Treatment Access with ITPC at AIDS 2026

Episode Description

Host Ben Plumley speaks with Solange Baptiste Simon and Othoman Mellouk of the International Treatment Preparedness Coalition (ITPC) about their packed treatment pre-conference and concerns that treatment is being sidelined amid heavy focus on PrEP and prevention. They argue the prevention-versus-treatment framing is false, emphasizing a continuum from testing to prevention to treatment, and describe on-the-ground chaos as HIV services are integrated into broader chronic care with overstretched health workers and communities. They discuss a “strange” AIDS 2026 marked by funding cuts and reduced PEPFAR influence, uneven country leadership, and a shift from scientific innovation to challenges of financing, manufacturing, regulation, and equitable delivery of long-acting technologies. They caution against product-driven responses, stress human rights and stigma realities, and conclude that community power, involvement, and resourcing remain central to sustainable solutions.

00:00 Welcome and Guests

01:08 Treatment Preconference Highlights

03:13 Prevention vs Treatment Debate

05:00 Continuum of Care Reality

07:34 Clinic Integration Chaos

10:07 Conference Avoiding Hard Truths

14:58 Post PEPFAR Future

18:39 Product Hype vs Access

22:58 Fiscal Space and Priorities

25:13 Beyond Biomedical Fixes

30:19 2030 Targets Reality Check

32:29 Crossroads and Policy Choices