Scaling-up highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in Peru: Problems on the horizon [2]

Abstract

This article examines the challenges encountered during the scale-up of the national program providing free highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in Peru. Drawing on the experience of a major HIV treatment center, the authors describe operational barriers including insufficient healthcare personnel, increasing patient demand, delays in antiretroviral drug distribution, and limited access to laboratory monitoring for CD4 cell counts and viral load measurements. The paper highlights how these constraints may affect the effectiveness and sustainability of the national HIV treatment strategy and proposes measures such as decentralizing drug distribution and expanding laboratory services to improve access to care and strengthen program performance.