Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Millions More With HIV Should Be Taking Drugs Under WHO's Radically Revised Guidelines For Early Treatment
The World Health Organization issued sweeping new guidelines on Wednesday that could put millions more people on H.I.V. drugs than are now getting them. The recommendations could go a long way toward halting the epidemic, health officials say, but would cost untold billions of dollars not yet committed. (McNeil Jr., 9/30)
The World Health Organization has revised its HIV guidelines to recommend that anyone who tests positive for the virus that causes AIDS should be treated immediately. That guidance fits with what is already recommended in many developed nations, including the United States. (Cheng, 9/30)
The first major change involves those already infected with HIV. Previously, doctors were to wait until a patient's viral load reached a certain severity before offering treatment. But new studies have shown that treating as early as possible can keep patients healthier and reduce transmission rates with minimal side effects. (Cha, 9/30)
