India Pharma Outlook Team | Wednesday, 17 September 2025
The World Health Organization (WHO) has introduced the updated guidelines that focus on strengthening HIV service provision, on improving long-term adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART), and on promoting the overall health and well-being of people living with HIV. The advice is consistent with WHO's advocacy of person-centred care, representing the latest evidence and the broader health needs of those affected.
The first major change mentioned in the guideline is the one regarding WHO's strong recommendation of the inclusion of diabetes and hypertension management as part of the HIV services. Evidence suggests that 5 percent of the HIV-infected patients in sub-Saharan Africa suffer from diabetes, and 25 percent of them have hypertension, with similar distributions occurring worldwide
The second point is the call for the inclusion of mental health services, with the focus on depression, anxiety, and alcohol use disorders, in the HIV care. The study reveals that about one-third of people living with HIV may suffer from depression or anxiety, whereas alcohol use disorder, which affects at least 20% of the population, is associated with poor medication adherence, engaging in risky behaviours, and lowered mental health.
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WHO has come up with a plethora of successively substanced therapies for the health issue of ART adherence including evidence-based interventions and examples comprising of counselling, reminders, peer and lay supporter involvement, and tailored education, which have been proven to lead to viral suppression and patient satisfaction of general well-being.
“Incorporating not only hypertension and diabetes but also mental health care as a part of HIV services, as well as providing adherence support that is timely and customized, will undoubtedly be the means by which we will be able to empower the patients of today to remain on treatment and towards achieving well-being,” Dr. Tereza Kasaeva, Director of the WHO Department for HIV, TB, Hepatitis and STIs, was quoted as saying.
