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Part IV. Regional and Global Actions to Address Identified Obstacles to Universal Access at Country Level
Along with identifying critical action at country level to scale up the national AIDS response, several issues/challenges identified may best be addressed at the regional level through regional platforms such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
REGIONAL LEVEL
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Review of various legislation and policies of all ASEAN member countries that affect issues related to : |
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Mandatory HIV testing as requirement for overseas employment |
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Discrimination (perceived or actual) on the basis of HIV status |
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Risks and vulnerabilities in the context of sex work and drug use |
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Risks and vulnerabilities in the context of migration. ASEAN members need to review their respective policies and regulatory mechanisms and develop sound strategies that support HIV vulnerability reduction for both its citizens and migrant workers. Areas or priority are the Greater Mekong Subregion and the "BIMPS" (Burma, Indonesia, Malaysia Philippines and Singapore) countries. |
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"Brain drain" of health workers that leave a dearth in service providers trained in HIV/AIDS services. |
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| b) |
Establish an HIV/AIDS Early Warning Rapid Response System regionally to ensure analysis of emerging issues affecting mobility and other developmental concerns. |
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| c) |
Ensure scaling up access to ARV treatment among PLWHAs through inter-country mechanisms or partnerships (e.g., the ASEAN Working group on Technical Cooperation on Pharmaceuticals or the ASEAN Economic Community commitments to Trade in Goods): |
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to further analyze the impact of existing regulations and guidelines for purchasing and producing generic drugs vis-à-vis the Trade-Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement |
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to continuously work together to find better ways to obtain or produce affordable ARVs, medicines for opportunistic infections and testing reagents. |
GLOBAL LEVEL
| a) |
Resource Mobilization, including ensuring that commitments for HIV/AIDS contributions to the GFATM are fulfilled. |
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| b) |
Diversify ARV drug regimen donor funding support to ensure that a greater PLWHA majority needing ARV will be able to access other types of ARV life saving drugs. |
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| c) |
Ensure availability and provision of second line and pediatric ARV drug regimen. |
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