AIDS

1. AIDS/HIV-TELEMEDICINE Athina Stravodimou Supervisor: Dr.Ernest L Carter MD PhD

2. I. Overview II. Marketing III. Workflow IV. Medical Peripherals V. Telecommunications VI. Financials

3. OVERVIEW

4. The current medical system provides medical services to patients who visit hospitals. However, medical services can be provided at or close to the home of the patient using fully equipped mobile telemedicine systems. Such a system can identify the disease at an early stage, improve quality of life and prognosis through early diagnosis and treatment, and reduce the costs of medical service. Furthermore, the unit can provide mass screenings of the population, as well as full medical service to remote areas.

5. Estimated number of people living with HIV/AIDS In 2001 and during the first quarter of 2002, UNAIDS and WHO worked closely with national governments and research institutions to recalculate current estimates on people living with HIV/AIDS. These calculations are based on the previously published estimates for 1997 and 1999 and recent trends in HIV/AIDS surveillance in various populations. A methodology developed in collaboration with an international group of experts was used to calculate the new estimates on prevalence and incidence of HIV and AIDS deaths, as well as the number of children infected through mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Different approaches were used to estimate HIV prevalence in countries with low-level, concentrated or generalized epidemics. The current estimates do not claim to be an exact count of infections. Rather, they use a methodology that has thus far proved accurate in producing estimates which give a good indication of the magnitude of the epidemic in individual countries. However, these estimates are constantly being revised as countries improve their surveillance systems and collect more information.

6. MARKETING

7. Aids sufferers have tripled in Greece over the last decade The number of Aids sufferers has tripled in Greece over the last decade, while Greece currently holds fifth position in Europe concerning the ratio of AIDS sufferers and population after being in eighth place six years ago. The revelation was made by the president of the Special Infectious Diseases Control Center, who said the total number of deaths and patients approached 5.000 people in the last decade, 70 of whom are children. He expressed fears that AIDS sufferers are more than initially estimated in Greece, adding that all cases have not been declared to enable an overall picture of the problem to be created. It appears that the age bracket having the greatest disk is that between 25-35 and concerns both homosexual and bisexual men.

8. Assessment of the epidemiological situation ( 2002) Through December 2001, a cumulative total of 5,859 HIV seropositive persons, 2,254 AIDS cases and 1,299 deaths from AIDS have been reported at national level. Among newly reported HIV cases during 2000-2001 period, 26,94 % are men who have sex with other men (MSM),17,78 % heterosexuals and 2,98% IDUs. The route of transmission is yet to be determined in 51,86% of cases.

9. GREECE