Disinvestment

Estimates of HIV are just that, estimates – but in order to research the progression of the virus, and the effectiveness of intervention strategies, those estimates have to be as accurate as possible. Professor Prabhat Jha joins us to explain the novel way in which he and his team have collected data in India to provide a more accurate picture about the spread of the virus. Also this week, as spending cuts are planned across public services, the financial strain on the UK health service is increasing. One way in which some money can be saved is through disinvestment; ceasing treatments which have been superseded, or shown ineffective. Peter Littlejohns, the clinical and public health director of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), joins us to explain what NICE is doing in that arena. Annabel Ferriman takes us through the news.