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

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