BUENOS AIRES - Argentines living with HIV/AIDS and medics say spending cuts under libertarian President Javier Milei are hurting treatment of the illness and could lead to more cases, with fewer condoms for prevention and fewer tests to catch the virus early.

The right-wing leader is pushing a major austerity drive, touting his "chainsaw" to cut back the size of the state and overturn a deep fiscal deficit he inherited. That has seen budgets frozen or capped for many public sector services.

The budget for free HIV/AIDS treatment, where Argentina is a regional pioneer, fell 67% in real terms in 2024 and is set to fall 46% in 2025. That has put strain on supply of key medicines and could leave thousands without care next year, experts said.

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a chronic condition caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Most people with HIV can live near-normal lives and not suffer from AIDS-related illness with effective early treatment.

"I've been taking expired medication since May. Now in October they gave me medication until February, which expired in November," Claudio Mariani, 59, who was initially diagnosed as HIV positive in 1993, told Reuters.

"In my case, for example, I'm doing the viral load test now but I don't know when I'll have the results," he added.

According to official government data there are around 140,000 people living with HIV in Argentina. Around half that number depend on public sector treatment, according to the Health Ministry's latest Epidemiological Bulletin.

The government did not respond to requests for comment.

The Huésped Foundation, which works to ensure access to care for HIV/AIDS sufferers, said more than 9,000 people would see treatment interrupted in 2025 due to the spending cuts.

The government's draft budget woul...