Optimizing the HIV Care Environment: A Human Rights Imperative

Twenty years after the introduction of maximally suppressive antiretroviral therapy (ART), we have an opportunity to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with HIV infection and to virtually end HIV transmission. In addition to extending survival and preserving quality of life, ART has been proven highly effective in preventing sexual, parenteral, and vertical HIV transmission. In view of the near total elimination of infection from virally suppressed patients to uninfected partners and unborn infants, the HIV community has embraced a treatment-as-prevention strategy aimed at providing early access to HIV testing and treatment to prevent AIDS-related sickness and death while simultaneously preventing HIV transmission.

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) has suggested a set of targets known as the “90-90-90 targets,” proposing that by 2020, 90% of people living with HIV (PLHIV) should know their HIV serostatus, 90% of diagnosed individuals should be on ART, and 90% of people on ART should achieve sustained viral suppression. The proposition is that attaining the 90-90-90 targets could potentially lead to a 90% reduction in AIDS incidence, AIDS-related deaths, and new HIV infections by 2030 as compared with 2010 levels. Very clearly, the 90-90-90 targets align well with efforts to optimize the HIV care continuum, a concept central to generating demand for and optimally delivering services as well as monitoring and evaluation to hold ourselves accountable for progress made, or a lack thereof, in achieving the therapeutic and preventive benefits of ART.

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During the Canada Post strike announced September 25, 2025, the following measures will be undertaken to minimize service disruption to BC-CfE clients and providers.

  • The BC-CfE Laboratory has transitioned to private courier for delivery of outgoing reports and documents. Results required urgently can be faxed upon request. (Lab Contact Information: Phone 604-806-8775; FAX 604-806-9463)
  • The BC-CfE Drug Treatment Program (DTP) will fax outgoing forms and documents to the provider’s office. (DTP Contact Information: Phone 604-806-8515; FAX 604-806-9044)
  • St. Paul’s Hospital Ambulatory Pharmacy has transitioned to private courier for delivery of medications. We recommend requesting medication at least 2 weeks in advance in case of delivery delays, particularly to rural/remote parts of BC. (Contact Information: Phone 1-800-547-3622; FAX 604-806-8675)

During the Canada Post strike, we recommend that documents be faxed or couriered to our sites, versus utilization of regular mail service

The BC-CfE Laboratory is streamlining reporting processes for certain tests in order to simplify distribution and record-keeping, and to ensure completeness of results. Beginning September 2, 2025, results for the ‘Resistance Analysis of HIV-1 Protease and Reverse Transcriptase’ (Protease-RT) and ‘HIV-1 Integrase Resistance Genotype’ tests will be combined into a single ‘HIV-1 Resistance Genotype Report’.
For more details and example reports, please click on the button below