Country experiences in implementing patient monitoring systems for HIV care and antiretroviral therapy in Ethiopia, Guyana and India
ISBN 978 92 4 159900 9
Patient monitoring is the routine collection, compilation and analysis of patient data over time and across service delivery points. Given the life-long nature of antiretroviral therapy and the significant increase in the number of people receiving antiretroviral therapy in low- and middle-income countries, adequate patient monitoring systems are critical to ensure good clinical care, enable sound decision-making at all levels of service delivery and secure the long-term sustainability of antiretroviral therapy programmes.
Based on the wealth of experience accumulated in Ethiopia, Guyana and India, this report provides a compilation of best practices and lessons learned that can guide programme managers implementing patient monitoring systems (focusing on the WHO paper-based system) in resource-limited settings. Among the multiple issues discussed in this report, the following core elements stand out.