30 years ago, antiretroviral therapy transformed HIV care in Australia and worldwide

Thirty years ago, highly active antiretroviral therapy transformed HIV from a death sentence into a manageable chronic condition, saving millions of lives worldwide. Before combination therapy, patients faced drug resistance and severe side effects. After 1996, AIDS-related deaths in Australia fell sharply; global deaths, peaking near two million annually, have halved. One daily pill can now suppress HIV; an undetectable viral load means no transmission to partners. Australia, praised for its community-led response, aims to eliminate HIV as a public health threat by 2030. However, a UN report warns global funding dropped by one-fifth in 2025, threatening progress.