Joint WHO/UNAIDS consultation with diagnostic manufacturers, partner organizations and stakeholders

8 – 9 July 2019
Geneva, Switzerland

The objectives of this consultation were:

  1. To share with participants updates on WHO policies and guidelines related to: 
    1. WHO HIV testing to scale up access to ART treatment in the context of 90/90/90 
    2. targets; 
    3. the role of CD4 and VIRAL LOAD (VL) tests for initiation and monitoring patients 
    4. receiving antiretroviral treatment; 
    5. the cascade data use manual to guide the implementation and country support for 
    6. more focused interventions; 
    7. the role of simplified diagnostics in hepatitis treatment scale up; 
    8. update from the WHO Essential Medicines and Health Products on the 
    9. prequalification of diagnostics and rapid diagnostics tests. 
  2. To present the global diagnostic demand forecasts for the period of 2019–2024 to ensure 
    1. that manufacturers increase their production capacity to meet the demand towards the 
    2. 90/90/90 targets and to explore potential areas for strengthening country capacity to scale up 
    3. access to diagnostics. 
  3. Include a specific program focus on Self Testing and laboratory capacity: model market 
    1. estimates and forecast.
  4. Strengthen the country focus with country presentation of their forecasts, quantifications and challenges for India, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe. 
    1. Present the situation of domestic and international financial resources to scale up access to diagnostics, learn from countries experiences in scaling up access to diagnostics and support needed from partners and manufacturers and discuss access to HIV diagnostics. 
    2. Discuss the national and international efforts to strengthen laboratory systems for increased access to diagnosing HIV infection and monitoring treatment outcomes.