By the end of June 2006, there were 94 facilities in Malawi in the public health sector delivering ART free of charge to HIV-positive eligible patients. In the second quarter of 2006 (April to June), there were 10,465 new patients started on ART. Up until the end of June 2006, there were 57,366 patients who had ever started on ART. For the quarter, 38% of patients were male and 7% were children (14 years and below). For the cumulative analysis, 39% of patients were male and 6% were children (14 years and below).

Of 57,366 patients who ever started on free ART, their outcomes by end of June 2006 were as follows: 72.5% were alive and on ART at the site of registration, 11.5% had died, 8% were lost to follow-up, 7 % had transferred out to another facility (and were presumably alive) and 1% had stopped treatment.

Of 41,549 patients alive and on ART:- 96% were on the first line regimen, 3% were on an alternative first line regimen and a small number (124) were on a second line regimen. Of those alive and on ART, 95% were ambulatory; 92% were fit to work; 5% had one or more major side effects assessed during the month of June; and 91% of patients showed 95% or more adherence to therapy based on pill counts.

A 6-month survival analysis (with outcomes censored on June 30th 2006) was performed on 7,647 patients starting free ART from 60 sites between October – December 2005: 77% were alive (70% alive and on ART + 7% transferred out). A 12-month survival analysis (with outcomes censored on June 30th 2006) was performed on 5,316 patients starting free ART from 53 sites between April – June 2005: 77% were alive (63% alive and on ART + 14% transferred out). An 18-month survival analysis (with outcomes censored on June 30th 2006) was performed on 2,934 patients starting free ART from 19 sites between October – December 2004: 71% were alive (55% alive and on ART + 16% transferred out).