Progress on Global Access to HIV Antiretroviral Therapy

Since late 2003, when WHO and UNAIDS launched a strategy for ensuring treatment for 3 million people living with HIV/AIDS in low- and middle-income countries by the end of 2005 (the "3 by 5" target), coverage of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in these countries has more than doubled – increasing from 400 000 to approximately 1 million people receiving treatment at the end of June 2005. To date, 14 of these countries are providing ART to at least 50 per cent of those who need it, consistent with the "3 by 5" target.

This interim report on global efforts to increase access to ART focuses primarily on understanding the reasons for the successes and failures of scaling up HIV/AIDS interventions in different settings. The report also makes recommendations concerning the approaches needed to overcome major bottlenecks, as well as the need for sustainable financing mechanisms and greater harmonization of effort by technical and financing partners at country level. A comprehensive report and country-specific analysis of access efforts and obstacles that remain will be released at the end of 2005.