Russia’s HIV Crisis: 30,000 Annual Deaths Strain Economy, Exacerbated by War
Approximately 30,000 working-age Russians die annually from HIV, costing the government 70 billion rubles ($670 million) yearly in treatment. This substantial loss of economically active individuals significantly impacts Russia’s economy. The epidemic is fueled by insufficient early diagnosis and inconsistent treatment access, exacerbated by drug shortages and underfunded testing programs. Heterosexual transmission is now the primary mode of infection, though marginalized groups remain disproportionately affected.
John Q. Hosedrinker