NCJ Number
112577
Date Published
1988
Length
42 pages
Annotation
This report assesses the adequacy of the proposed fiscal 1989 Public Health Service (PHS) budget for AIDS activities and the appropriateness of its allocation among various programs.
Abstract
Sources of information included recent literature on AIDS and interviews with Federal officials and AIDS experts from the private sector. In summary, AIDS experts recommended that Congress appropriate more money than the Administration has requested, suggesting increases ranging from 15 to 77 percent above the current $1.3 billion budget request. Both public and private sector experts believed more could be spent in three areas: controlling HIV infection among intravenous drug users, targeting education at high-risk groups, and providing patient care. If constrained to the proposed budget, experts reluctantly concluded they would fund such increases by reducing funds for biomedical research. Several persons believed that serious staff PHS shortages may adversely affect management of AIDS programs and that diversion of staff to AIDS projects could adversely affect other PHS efforts. Improving collection of data on prevention and patient care was recommended. Tables and a list of experts interviewed for the report.