New way to aid HIV-AIDS treatment offered

NEW YORK, Aug. 25 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say new computer-modeling methods can help resolve drug distribution delays and medical staffing problems in developing nations.

Researchers at the Weill Cornell Medical College and the Clinton Foundation HIV/AIDS Initiative explored how combining engineering science with medical care can guarantee long-term success in treatment programs.

They said they used sophisticated mathematical modeling to help maximize efficient use of antiretroviral drugs and medical personnel for the treatment of the human immunodeficiency virus and AIDS.

"Operations research offers a powerful set of tools that have been used successfully in everything from World War II to Wal-Mart-style logistics planning," said Dr. Wei Xiong, the study's lead author. "These tools ought to be used to increase the success of existing programs and to help expand access to HIV care and treatment in resource-limited countries."

The study's co-investigator, Dr. Nathaniel Hupert, said up to now HIV treatment planning has focused first on policy-level issues, such as program initiation and costs, and secondarily on operational-level issues.

"Now that many programs are in place, the potential gains from improved planning are great, especially given the high cost of antiretroviral drug therapy," said Hupert.

The study appears online in the journal Health Services Research.