The global response to AIDS is not only off track but also regressing in some regions and among certain communities. Despite significant progress in preventing new infections and ensuring better health for those living with HIV, the world is far from meeting its 2030 goal of ending AIDS. The commitments made under the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) emphasized a vision where no one is left behind, yet millions still face the realities of new infections, inadequate treatment, and preventable deaths.
Even with a variety of proven HIV prevention methods, 1.3 million people were newly diagnosed with HIV in 2023 more than three times the pledged target of reducing annual new infections to below 370,000 by 2025. Meanwhile, 630,000 people died from AIDS-related illnesses in 2023, which, although a decline from 2010, remains far higher than the promised target of under 250,000 deaths by 2025.
Urgent Need for a Rights-Based Approach
Every new HIV infection and every death due to AIDS-related illnesses is a reminder that more could have been done. The situation demands immediate accountability, comprehensive review, and strategic course correction to meet global commitments. There is still an opportunity to act decisively by investing in effective, people-centered, and rights-based programs that reduce stigma, discrimination, and social barriers.
The global targets for 2025 include:
- 95% of people at risk of HIV using combination prevention methods
- 95% of people with HIV knowing their status
- 95% of diagnosed individuals receiving lifesaving antiretroviral treatment
- 95% of those on treatment achieving viral suppression
- 95% of women accessing sexual and reproductive health services
- 95% of HIV-positive pregnant women receiving services to prevent vertical transmission
- 90% of people living with HIV receiving tuberculosis preventive therapy
- 90% of people at risk being linked to integrated health services
- Less than 10% of people living with HIV experiencing stigma and discrimination
- Less than 10% of women, girls, and key populations facing gender-based inequalities or violence
- Less than 10% of countries retaining punitive laws and policies
However, the latest global AIDS report indicates that most new HIV transmissions occur among those who remain undiagnosed, followed by those diagnosed but untreated. While those on treatment and virally suppressed pose zero risk of transmission, major gaps remain in achieving this level of care worldwide.
Gaps Between Promises and Reality
Instead of 95% of people living with HIV knowing their status by 2025, only 78% in the Asia Pacific region were aware of their HIV-positive status by 2023. Rather than 90% of those diagnosed being on treatment, only 67% were receiving therapy. Furthermore, only 65% of those on treatment achieved viral suppression far below the targeted 86%.
Six countries in Asia Pacific Bangladesh, Laos, Papua New Guinea, Afghanistan, Fiji, and the Philippines are experiencing a rise in HIV infections. In the Philippines, HIV rates surged by nearly 600% between 2010 and 2023, mainly due to male-to-male transmission among younger people. Fiji saw a 200% increase, primarily driven by injecting drug use.
Nine countries in the region, including Pakistan, Indonesia, and Mongolia, also saw rising AIDS-related deaths. However, some countries such as Cambodia, Nepal, New Zealand, and Thailand have made significant progress, with over 80% of people living with HIV knowing their status, receiving treatment, and achieving viral suppression. Nepal is the only country in Asia Pacific on track to meet HIV prevention targets, and Malaysia, Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Thailand have successfully eliminated vertical transmission.
A Call to Strengthen Prevention Efforts
HIV prevention remains underfunded and inconsistently implemented. Only Nepal is on course to reduce new HIV infections by 90% by 2030. While India has managed to reduce new infections by 44% between 2010 and 2023, a much greater acceleration is needed. In 2024-2025, 84% of people living with HIV in India knew their status, 86% were on treatment, and 94% were virally suppressed figures that still need improvement.
Globally, the situation is only slightly better, with 86% knowing their status, 89% on treatment, and 93% achieving viral suppression by 2023.
Why Ending AIDS in Asia Pacific and India Matters
Asia Pacific accounts for a quarter of all new HIV infections worldwide, with 300,000 new cases in 2023. India alone contributed 5-6% of the total new infections globally. The numbers paint a sobering picture:
- Every two minutes, one person in Asia Pacific contracts HIV.
- Every hour, 35 new people are infected, including nine young individuals.
- Every day, 300 men who have sex with men, 80 people who inject drugs, 50 sex workers, and 15 transgender people become newly infected.
- Every hour, 17 people die of AIDS-related illnesses.
- Every day, nine young people aged 15-24 die due to AIDS-related complications.
The Importance of Focusing on Key Populations
HIV disproportionately affects key populations and their partners. In 2022, 80% of new infections in Asia Pacific occurred among these groups, with 43% linked to male-to-male sex an increase of over 34% in the past decade. Despite this, service coverage remains critically low:
- Only 47% of female sex workers have access to HIV services.
- 31% of men who have sex with men receive support.
- 34% of transgender people have access to services.
- A mere 21% of people who inject drugs receive HIV-related care.
Shockingly, nine countries in Asia Pacific allocate less than 15% of their HIV budgets to programs focused on key populations. Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), a crucial tool for prevention, remains underutilized, with only 204,000 people accessing it in 2023—just 2.5% of the 2025 target of 8.2 million users.
Urgent Steps to End AIDS
Governments must refocus efforts on key populations, ensuring that HIV prevention and treatment services are accessible, targeted, and delivered at the necessary scale. There is a pressing need to modernize service delivery, embrace innovative prevention tools like long-term injectables and self-testing, and remove structural barriers that fuel stigma and discrimination.
Investment in HIV prevention and community-led programs is essential to closing these gaps. Without bold and immediate action, the goal of ending AIDS by 2030 will remain out of reach.
