by Sarah Boseley

Governments were caught out when Covid-19 hit, having overlooked the need to be able to test for new diseases because they were focused on drugs and vaccines for those they already knew about.

Now there are fears that the rush to supply wealthier countries pressing for more tests may destabilise the fight against HIV, malaria and tuberculosis, illnesses that kill millions, mostly in low- and middle-income countries.

“Some companies are planning to reduce or stop malaria, HIV and TB test production,” said Dr Catharina Boehme, the chief executive of the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (Find) and an adviser to the World Health Organization. “They are shifting their production to Covid-19 tests.”

Boehme said companies could get about 18 cents for a rapid malaria test and $10 for a Covid-19 test. The Global Fund to fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria said it was concerned about “any action that might reduce the availability of tests or treatment for HIV, TB or malaria”.

Its executive director, Peter Sands, said: “Given the risk that Covid-19 undermines our continued progress in the fight against existing epidemics, this is not the time to be to doing anything that weakens our ability to diagnose and treat those infected with HIV, TB and malaria in a timely and cost-effective way. Doing so would cost lives.” Read more via Guardian