title: Expansion of China's free antiretroviral treatment program.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In 2003, China's National Free Antiretroviral Treatment Program (NFATP) was initiated as a pilot, which covered only 100 HIV/AIDS patients. By 2011, the pilot had evolved into a nationwide program and had provided free treatment for over 150 000 patients. The objective of this study was to report and evaluate the progress of China's free antiretroviral treatment program.
  
  
  METHODS
  The NFATP Database was systematically reviewed and a total of 150 692 HIV/AIDS patients were included in this study. Program progress indicators including the number of treated HIV/AIDS patients, follow-up visit rate, CD4 test rate, and viral load test rate were summarized and examined over a calendar year to evaluate the progress of NFATP quantitatively and qualitatively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  By the end of 2011, a total of 150 692 HIV/AIDS patients had been treated through the NFATP and 122 613 of them were still on treatment. Of all patients, about 72% were enrolled during the past four years. The dominant transmission route was blood related in the early phase of the NFATP, but gradually changed to sexual contact. Besides quantitative improvements, progress indicators also demonstrated significant qualitative improvements that the program had made during the past 9 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Great achievement has been made by China's NFATP. China's experience indicates the importance of a comprehensive response to the success of its treatment program. However, to ensure the quality and sustainability of treatment in the long term, more attention and resources should be paid towards program management.
authors.affiliation: Division of Treatment and Care, National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Diseases Control and Prevention, Beijing 100050, China.
authors.forename: De-Cai
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.forename: Ye
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Yao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ya-Song
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Au
authors.forename: Zhong-Fu
authors.initials: ZF
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Fu-Jie
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents