For the first time in the history of the AIDS epidemic, more than half of all people living with HIV now have access to drugs to treat the virus.

U.N. AIDS released the news in a report that also revealed that AIDS-related deaths have dropped to almost half of what they were in 2005.

The report goes on to say that countries are continuing to start treatment as early as possible, knowing that it's a proven way to help prevent new infections. It also says that three-quarters of pregnant women with HIV currently have access to medicines that stop them from passing the virus to their babies.

Despite the progress being great news, some HIV experts wonder if the billions that have been spent on the virus since the '90s should have yielded even better results.

Sophie Harman, a senior lecturer in global health systems, told AP News that more resources could have gone to making health systems in poor countries stronger than they currently are.

“The real test will come in five to 10 years once the funding goes down,” Harman said, explaining that some countries will likely be unable to maintain the U.N.-funded AIDS programs by themselves.

Harman also says that the idea of "Ending AIDS," which was the title of the report, is not totally realistic.

“I can see why they do it, because it’s bold and no one would ever disagree with the idea of ending AIDS, but I think we should be pragmatic,” she told AP News. “I don’t think we will ever eliminate AIDS, so it’s possible this will give people the wrong idea.”