Communities & Treatment Access with ITPC at AIDS 2026

Host Ben Plumley speaks with Solange Baptiste Simon and Othoman Mellouk of the International Treatment Preparedness Coalition (ITPC) about their packed treatment pre-conference and concerns that treatment is being sidelined amid heavy focus on PrEP and prevention. They argue the prevention-versus-treatment framing is false, emphasizing a continuum from testing to prevention to treatment, and describe on-the-ground chaos as HIV services are integrated into broader chronic care with overstretched health workers and communities. They discuss a “strange” AIDS 2026 marked by funding cuts and reduced PEPFAR influence, uneven country leadership, and a shift from scientific innovation to challenges of financing, manufacturing, regulation, and equitable delivery of long-acting technologies. They caution against product-driven responses, stress human rights and stigma realities, and conclude that community power, involvement, and resourcing remain central to sustainable solutions. 00:00 Welcome and Guests 01:08 Treatment Preconference Highlights 03:13 Prevention vs Treatment Debate 05:00 Continuum of Care Reality 07:34 Clinic Integration Chaos 10:07 Conference Avoiding Hard Truths 14:58 Post PEPFAR Future 18:39 Product Hype vs Access 22:58 Fiscal Space and Priorities 25:13 Beyond Biomedical Fixes 30:19 2030 Targets Reality Check 32:29 Crossroads and Policy Choices 36:15 Community Hope and Closing 38:23 Final Thanks and Signoff **Guests:** Solange Baptiste Simon Executive Director, ITPC Othoman Mellouk Access to Medicines & Diagnostic Lead, ITPC **ITPC Global** https://itpcglobal.org **AIDS 2026** https://www.iasociety.org/conferences/aids2026 **Check Out Ben’s Substack:** https://substack.com/@benplumley1 **Join the Conversation!** How do you see the future of global health unfolding? Share your thoughts in the comments! **Subscribe & Stay Updated:** Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast platform. Watch on YouTube & subscribe for more in-depth global health. #hivaids #HIV #AIDS #globalhealth #AIDS2026 #ITPC