Since Brazil began its aggressive approach to HIV treatment, the country's health care system has increased the number of drugs it provides to those infected with the virus. Officials have also had to incorporate newly infected patients into their treatment programs. However, the amount of money the government spent each year on drugs for HIV-positive citizens decreased by $104 million between 1999 and 2001 even though more than 32,000 new patients were added to the program during that time period.

Brazil's government has controlled the cost of antiretroviral drugs by producing many in its own network of public labs, and negotiating for cuts in drug prices purchased from foreign pharmaceutical companies.

A decrease in spending on treatment of HIV-positive patients who become ill has offset some of the government's drug costs. The Ministry of Health estimates antiretroviral drugs helped prevent around 358,000 AIDS-related hospital admissions, saving their public health system $1.1 billion [U.S.] between 1997 and 2001.

The availability of home care and day hospitals -- where patients can receive up to 12 hours of care on an outpatient basis -- has also helped contain hospitalization costs.