The State of the Philippine HIV Epidemic 2016: Facing Challenges, Forging Solutions

This report provides the current state of the epidemic, drawing mainly from the HIV/AIDS and ART Registry of the Philippines, the latest projections from the AIDS Epidemic Modeling, and the most recent analyses of the Integrated HIV Behavioral and Serologic Surveillance. Best available evidence underscores the urgency to enhance and intensify interventions for key populations, specifically young males and transgender women who have sex with males (M/TSM) and people who inject drugs (PWID) who comprise a significant proportion of new infections. But in working with and among key populations, women—especially female partners of MSM and people who inject drugs—cannot be left behind if the country is to prevent further increase of HIV infection among pregnant women. This also takes stock of recent programmatic reforms and offers evidence to guide program and policy development. It documents the gains from recent enhancements to the country’s provision of HIV services (i.e. piloting of the rapid HIV diagnostic algorithm) and highlights persistent challenges in terms of linkage to care and viral load testing.