By 2008, the number of HIV/AIDS patients in low- and middle-income countries who were receiving antiretroviral therapy (ARVs) had grown by 10-fold over five years, according to a UN report issued today. The largest increase, 39 percent, was in sub-Saharan Africa.

In 2008, 4.03 million poor patients these countries were receiving ARVs, up from 2.97 million patients the previous year, the report said. However, just 42 percent of the 9.5 million African HIV/AIDS patients needing ARVs were receiving them. Some 7 million people are expected to be receiving ARVs by next year, a 3 million increase in two years, said Michel Sidibe, executive director of UNAIDS.

"One of the major factors which contributed to create a wider availability of treatment is reduction of price of the most frequently used [ARVs]," said Teguest Guerma, head of the HIV/AIDS program at the World Health Organization (WHO). The prices of cheaper first-line ARVs fell by 10-40 percent between 2006 and 2008, a key reason for improved treatment access, she noted.

"This report shows tremendous progress in the global HIV/AIDS response," said Margaret Chan, WHO's director-general. "But we need to do more. At least 5 million people living with HIV still do not have access to life-prolonging treatment and care."

The number of new HIV infections is also increasing at a faster rate than the number of people on ARVs, according to WHO. "All indications point to the number of people needing treatment rising dramatically over the next few years," Sidibe said.