Everybody diagnosed with HIV – together with those at high risk of infection – should be given antiretroviral treatment as soon as possible, according to international guidelines published yesterday.
The World Health Organisation said there should be no limitations on treatment for those living with the virus.
Treatment should also be offered to those at "substantial" risk of getting infected, it said.
WHO says its guidelines are supported by the findings of recent clinical trials.
Michel Sidibé, executive director of the United Nations AIDS organisation, said: “Everybody living with HIV has the right to life-saving treatment.
"The new guidelines are a very important step towards ensuring that all people living with HIV have immediate access to antiretroviral treatment."
Winnie Mpanju-Shumbusho, from WHO, said: “The world has just committed to ending the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases by 2030 – an ambitious, but feasible set of targets.
"The recommendations we are releasing today will be critical for reaching the sustainable development goal on health by expanding the benefits of antiretroviral treatment to all people living with HIV, and adding another prevention component for people at substantial risk of HIV.”
Guideline on when to start antiretroviral therapy and on pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV [Guidance]
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