An evaluation of antiretroviral HIV/AIDS treatment in a Rio de Janeiro public clinic.

The Brazilian public health system has implemented free, universal access to antiretroviral (ARV) therapy for HIV-infected patients. To evaluate this system, we performed a pilot study to determine whether ARVs were prescribed according to Brazilian guidelines in place in 2000, and whether prescriptions were refilled in a timely manner. Year 2000 data were abstracted from all medical and pharmacy records of adult patients first registered for HIV/AIDS care in a Rio de Janeiro public clinic from January to June 2000 (n = 67).