WHO Programmatic Update: Maximizing the Treatment and Prevention Potential of Antiretroviral Drugs - Early Country Experiences towards Implementing a Treat-all Policy

WHO guidelines on antiretroviral therapy (ART) have evolved during the past decade towards recommending earlier treatment, as evidence has shown clinical and public health benefit, treatment has become simpler, more tolerable and more affordable, and systems for ARV delivery have been streamlined for scale.

This update summarizes experiences of countries that have already begun to implement earlier treatment approaches as part of a national policy or pilot programmes. Overall, these five country examples demonstrate that scaling up a treat-all policy, across diverse populations (adults, key populations and children) is acceptable and feasible, with early benefits and no immediate evidence of harmful effects.