Summary Points
-- According to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), in 2018, an estimated 37.9 million people were living with HIV worldwide. There were also 1.7 million new infections and 770,000 deaths.
-- At the end of June 2019, 24.5 million people were receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART). Nonetheless, increased access to high-quality ART services is needed to further reduce mortality and new infections and to optimize long term outcomes.
-- In this article, we summarize priorities for HIV service delivery research and guidance identified through a World Health Organization (WHO) consultation held at the end of 2018.
-- The priorities identified include linkage from HIV testing to care; rapid initiation of ART (including out-of-facility ART initiation); task sharing and decentralization, including children and patients on second line; ART delivery for stable clients; adherence, retention, and reengagement in care; management of advanced HIV disease; provision of welcoming health services; and strengthening of service integration, particulary for NCDs and family planning.
-- Ongoing evaluation is needed to determine the net effects of introducing differentiated service delivery models, in terms of health service inputs and long-term outcomes for people living with HIV.
