WASHINGTON • Kathleen Sebelius, the secretary of health and human services, said Thursday that she would provide an additional $25 million to help states buy life-saving medications for people with HIV or AIDS.

Advocates for patients, however, said the money was not nearly enough to eliminate waiting lists, which have surged to record levels as people have lost health insurance, along with their jobs, and states have cut their budgets.

Sebelius said she was "reallocating and transferring $25 million in existing resources" to provide medicines for people on waiting lists.

Dr. Howard Koh, the assistant secretary of health and human services in charge of the program, said the action "reflects the administration's commitment to HIV treatment and care."

In an interview, Koh repeatedly refused to say where the money had come from.

Sebelius said she was confident that the $25 million would meet the existing and projected need until the end of the fiscal year Sept. 30.

As of July 1, about 2,100 people were on waiting lists for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program in 11 states: Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Montana, North Carolina, South Carolina, South Dakota and Utah.

Other states have narrowed eligibility, limited enrollment or restricted the drugs for which they will pay. These measures affect thousands of people.

Carl Schmid, deputy executive director of the AIDS Institute, an advocacy group for patients, said: "The $25 million will help. It's a start. But it's definitely not enough."