ASICON 2025: Largest HIV Medical Experts Conference in India Inaugurated by Gujarat Chief Minister

Ahmedabad, 21st February 2025: The 16th National Conference of the AIDS Society of India (ASICON 2025) was inaugurated today by Gujarat Chief Minister Honourable Shri Bhupendrabhai Patel in Ahmedabad. This is the first time that ASICON has come to Ahmedabad. The event is organized by the AIDS Society of India (ASI), the largest medical professional association of HIV experts in the country. The year 2025 marks the 26th year of service for ASI.

Lifetime Achievement Awards: Gujarat Chief Minister Hon. Shri Bhupendrabhai Patel presented lifetime achievement awards to:

• Dr. Glory Alexander: Recipient of the prestigious Dr. BC Roy National Award and founder-Director of ASHA Foundation Bengaluru.

• Dr. GD Ravindran: Began HIV medical care in 1990 at St. John's Medical College Hospital.

• Dr. Juergen Rockstroh: Renowned HIV researcher and Professor of Medicine and Head of the HIV Outpatient Clinic at the University of Bonn, Germany.

• Dr. UD Balaji: Leads HIV research at Emcure in Pune.

Making U=U a Reality: Dr. Ishwar Gilada, President Emeritus of ASI and Governing Council member of the International AIDS Society (IAS), emphasized the importance of achieving the Undetectable Equals Untransmittable (U=U) goal. He stated, "If we are to end AIDS, we have to ensure that all people with HIV know their status, 100% of them are on lifesaving antiretroviral therapy, and 100% of them are virally suppressed. The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes that there is zero risk of HIV transmission if people with HIV remain virally suppressed."

HIV Targets for 2025: ASICON 2025 has brought together over 300 medical experts from across India and other nations. Dr. Harsh Toshniwal, Co-Chair of ASICON 2025, stated, "The 95-95-95 targets for 2025 aim for 95% of all people living with HIV to know their status, 95% of those who know their status to receive antiretroviral therapy, and 95% of those on treatment to be virally suppressed."

India's Progress: Dr. Uday Bhanu Das, Deputy Director General of NACO at the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India, provided updates on India's progress towards these targets:

• 84% of estimated people living with HIV in India knew their status.

• 86% of them were on lifesaving antiretroviral therapy.

• 94% of those on therapy were virally suppressed.

Global Progress: Globally, 86% of people living with HIV knew their status, 89% were on antiretroviral therapy, and 93% of those on therapy were virally suppressed.

Funding: Dr. Das highlighted that 94% of the National AIDS and STIs Control Programme's funding comes from the Government of India, with 6% from the Global Fund. He added that the Government of India also contributes financially to the Global Fund and WHO.

HIV and India: According to NACO:

• Compared to 2010, HIV rates in India almost halved by 2023 (44.23% decline), surpassing the global decline (39%).

• AIDS-related deaths in India declined by 79.26% by 2023 (higher than the global decline of 51%).

• In 2023, there were 25.44 lakh people living with HIV in India, with an adult HIV prevalence of around 0.20% (below the global average of 0.70%).

• There were 68,450 new HIV infections and 35,870 AIDS-related deaths in India in 2023.

• In 2023, there were 19,961 pregnant women living with HIV who needed medical services for preventing HIV transmission before, during, and after childbirth.

HIV and Gujarat: In Gujarat, as per NACO data for 2023:

• Adult HIV prevalence was 0.19% (similar to the national average of 0.20%).

• There were 1,20,312 people living with HIV, and 800 HIV-related deaths.

• There were 2,671 new HIV diagnoses in 2023.

• Compared to 2010, HIV incidence in Gujarat declined by 56.86% (higher than the national average decline of 44.23%).

Scientific Partners of ASICON 2025: Scientific partners include:

• National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO)

• National TB Elimination Programme, Central TB Division, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India

• Gujarat Medical Council

• Infectious Diseases Society of Gujarat

• UNAIDS

• CAPRISA (Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa)

• AHF India Cares

• Gujarat Tourism and Indian Convention Promotion Bureau under Ministry of Tourism, Govt of India

For more information, contact:

• Dr. Dilip Mathai (President, ASI): Cell: 9443336984, Email: mathai.dilip@gmail.com

• Dr. Harsh Toshniwal (Co-Chair, ASICON 2025): Cell: 9825249566, Email: idtmclinic@gmail.com

• Dr. Ishwar Gilada (President Emeritus, ASI): Cell: 9820081566, Email: gilada@usa.net