MOSCOW — The increasing number of HIV-positive people has grown beyond being purely a healthcare issue, it has become an issue of the country's strategic, social and economic security, Russia's deputy PM Alexander Zhukov stated at a summit of business leaders summoned to consider AIDS issues. Zhukov said that the social-economic aspect of the issue was of great importance, for most HIV positive people were from the working-age population. By and large, Russia counts over 300,000 HIV-positive people, however the figure is actually far bigger. In his opinion, the Russian government was aware of the importance and size of the issue. Currently, a key task is to provide affordable medicines for HIV-positive people, the deputy PM said, and added that the government was committed to a non-discriminatory policy with regard to HIV-positive people. To keep a check on the epidemic, joint efforts from pharmaceutical companies and the government are required. Zhukov said that the Russian pharmaceuticals industry was capable of ensuring a leading position for Russia with regard to both promoting existing vaccines and developing new ones.