A recent study conducted in KwaZulu-Natal has found that people living with HIV who received 12-month prescriptions for their antiretroviral treatment (ART) had similar outcomes to those who received six-month prescriptions.
The study, which analyzed data from over 27,000 people living with HIV, suggests that extended prescriptions can be a safe and effective way to manage HIV treatment.
The study’s findings support the differentiated service delivery approach (DSD), which aims to provide more personalized care for people living with HIV. The approach recognizes that people who are stable on treatment require less frequent clinic visits, allowing healthcare resources to be directed towards those who need more intensive care.
In South Africa, the Centralised Chronic Medicines Dispensing and Distribution (CCMDD) system has been used to provide people living with HIV with multi-month dispensing of their treatment.
The system allows people to collect their medicines at designated pickup points, reducing the need for frequent clinic visits. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the CCMDD program was adapted to allow for 12-month prescriptions and three-month ART refills. The study’s findings suggest that these changes can be beneficial for people living with HIV, allowing them to manage their treatment with fewer clinic visits.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that people established on ART should be offered refills of treatment lasting between three to six months, preferably six months if feasible. The WHO defines people established on ART as those who have been on treatment for at least six months, have no other illnesses, and show evidence that their treatment is working.
The study’s findings have implications for HIV treatment in South Africa, suggesting that extended prescriptions can be a safe and effective way to manage treatment. As the country continues to work towards improving HIV treatment and care, the study’s findings provide valuable insights into the benefits of differentiated service delivery approaches.
