Expanding antiretroviral treatment in developing countries creates critical new challenges

How should policy makers and programmers prepare for an extension of ARV treatment?

This paper examines the downstream implications of the new commitment to provide ART to people living with HIV/AIDS in developing countries.

Specifically, the report asks, what new challenges are likely to emanate from expanded treatment programs that reach large numbers of HIV-infected persons? And what policy and programmatic innovations will be needed to address these challenges?

Six core challenges are emerging as HIV-treatment programs expand:

substantially more resources are required to expand health system capacity. Most essential will be training the people who will implement prevention, care, and treatment programs
ART regimens must be made even more affordable
priority prevention activities must be strengthened and better integrated with treatment
the adverse side effects of ART must be anticipated and mitigated
the emergence of antiretroviral drug resistance must be anticipated and mitigated
capacity must be rapidly developed to meet the needs of a growing population of people living with HIV/AIDS.

[author]

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Expanding antiretroviral treatment in developing countries creates critical new challenges