Box 1.

Summary of UNAIDS’ 90–90–90 strategy: policy goal, targets and associated policy content

The ‘90–90–90’ treatment targets set by UNAIDS
Policy goal	To eliminate the AIDS epidemic by 2030.
Policy target	90% of all PLHIV to know their status, 90% of those with diagnosed HIV infection to receive sustained antiretroviral therapy (81% of PLHIV), and 90% of those on antiretroviral therapy to achieve viral suppression (i.e. 73% of PLHIV) by 2020. Each target rises to 95% by 2030 to achieve the end of the AIDS epidemic.
Policy content	First 90: More frequent testing/increase demand for testing; strategic, focused testing to key population groups and/or geographies; increase/make available a broader number of HIV testing and counselling approaches, e.g. self-testing, provider initiated counselling and testing and community-based approaches. Second 90: Recommend antiretroviral therapy to all people with diagnosed HIV infection (or ‘test and treat’), without the requirement of a prior CD4 test; use of preferred, optimized regimens; make HIV treatment and care (including diagnostic tests and other treatment-related items) free to the individual; address implementation issues that have often slowed scale-up, e.g. frequent drug stockouts, barriers to procurement of optimally affordable medicines and diagnostics, and inadequate availability of second- and third-line regimens. Third 90: Sustained use of HIV treatment and ongoing virologic monitoring to verify treatment success and to intervene to support treatment adherence and re-engage those who fall out of care; every person starting HIV treatment will need to have access to viral load testing.