The economic impact of HIV/AIDS in Russia: Current trends and perspectives

Abstract

Accounting for some 70 percent of officially registered cases in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, the Russian Federation has witnessed one of the fastest growing AIDS epidemics in the world in recent years (UNAIDS, 2004, p. 48). This chapter provides an overview of current trends and perspectives in estimating the potential impact that HIV/AIDS may have on the Russian economy. Such analysis is crucial in framing public decision making concerning resource allocation and policy interventions and placing HIV/AIDS as a national priority.