Zambia is forecasted to update its HIV treatment policy by 2026 with the introduction of long-acting injectable ARVs (antiretroviral drugs).
This new treatment is set to be less invasive as it will be administered only twice a year, allowing patients to sidestep the daily regimens. Dr. Chimika Phiri, the HIV Prevention Lead from the Ministry stated that the rollout could be as early as January 2026, starting with patients on third-line treatment.
Dr. Phiri stated that the plan demonstrates the government’s commitment to modern approaches that optimize treatment accessibility while reducing social stigma. He added that injectable ARVs offer the needed discretion that formerly prescribed treatments lack, allowing patients to better adhere to therapy.
Apart from readily adopting modern technologies like the Cabotegravir two-monthly injectable Pre-Exposure, Zambia has also leapfrogged other nations in adopting two-monthly injectable Pre-Exposure (PrEP) – a pioneering step into the first-initiated use of the prevention tool.
The new injectable ARV administered biannually is expected to boost viral suppression rates as well as improve the quality of life of HIV patients by reducing the number of daily doses patients need to take.
Zambia Reports | August 23rd, 2025.