title: Strategies for the scale-up of antiretroviral therapy in South Africa through health system optimization.
abstract: In the face of the massive burden created by human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and other infectious diseases, developing nations must find ways to rapidly begin treatment for infected persons. Although infusions of personnel, supplies, and diagnostics would make a major contribution to expanding the capacity to treat these diseases, the lack of these resources creates a long-term challenge, and there is a need for additional approaches to spread effective interventions that can leverage existing resources and the much-needed infusions of new resources. This article describes one such approach-applied in several forms in South Africa-that aims to significantly increase the number of patients receiving antiretroviral therapy.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Healthcare Improvement, Cambridge, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. pierre_baker@med.unc.edu
authors.forename: Pierre M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Barker
authors.forename: C Joseph
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: McCannon
authors.forename: Nupur
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mehta
authors.forename: Cathryn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: Michele S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Youngleson
authors.forename: Justin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yarrow
authors.forename: Brandon
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.forename: Donald M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Berwick
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000191:economics / Q000600:supply & distribution; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000191:economics / Q000600:supply & distribution; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D018672:Community Health Planning / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D003906:Developing Countries; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics; D006284:Health Plan Implementation / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D012424:Rural Population; D013019:South Africa; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents