Patient-level and program-level monitoring and evaluation of differentiated service delivery for HIV: a pragmatic and parsimonious approach is needed

Achieving the ambitious global HIV treatment goals will require a marked expansion of antiretroviral therapy (ART) coverage and close attention to HIV service quality [1]. In response, a growing body of evidence supports the use of differentiated ART services (DARTS) for subgroups of HIV-positive individuals [2–14]. Although differentiated services can support diverse patient groups, most current DARTS initiatives target stable adult patients, that is, those demonstrating ART adherence and viral suppression or viral suppression alone [15]. Both community-based and facility-based DARTS can reduce the burdens associated with frequent and lengthy clinic visits for both patients and health providers. Ultimately, these models aim to enhance retention, ART adherence, viral suppression, and quality of life [16].