WHO releases new HIV treatment guidelines, June 2013

Consolidated guidelines on the use of antiretroviral drugs for treating and preventing HIV infection The new consolidated guidelines have important implications for the Region’s efforts to increase HIV treatment coverage.On 30 June 2013 WHO released new “Consolidated guidelines on the use of antiretroviral drugs for treating and preventing HIV infection”, supported by recent evidence on the benefits of earlier initiation of antiretroviral therapy for individuals and for public health. Earlier initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) will help people with HIV to live longer, healthier lives and substantially reduce the risk of transmitting HIV to others.

Over the last 10 years, access to HIV treatment has rapidly expanded and at the end of 2012, nearly 9 million people in low- and middle-income countries were receiving lifesaving antiretroviral therapy (HIV treatment). The scale up of HIV treatment in the Eastern Mediterranean Region has unfortunately not followed the same pace and today less than 15% of the estimated 200 000 people in need of HIV treatment are currently receiving it.

Concerned by the very low ART coverage in the Region, the WHO Regional Office, in collaboration with partners, launched an initiative to rally commitment and redouble efforts to increase access to HIV treatment in the Region.

End the HIV Treatment Crisis

Expanding access to HIV treatment

The new guidelines recommend expanding access to HIV treatment; more adults and more children living with HIV will now meet the clinical criteria for starting HIV treatment for its clinical life-saving benefits.

The new guidelines also make recommendations for use of antiretroviral drugs for its preventive benefits; people living with HIV who do not yet have clinical criteria for starting HIV treatment will now start treatment to reduce the risk of transmitting the virus to partners, this will result in even more people starting HIV treatment earlier.

Improving service delivery

The new guidelines make recommendations on how to:

increase the number of people tested for HIV
improve adherence to HIV treatment
improve retention in care
use simpler and more affordable approaches for laboratory monitoring of patients on treatment.

Based on a public health approach, the guidelines urge national programmes to ensure that HIV treatment and related interventions are accessible to all those who need them and that they are provided in an environment that minimizes stigma and discrimination.