HIV-infected people voluntarily abandon treatment for many reasons
Mr. Ha Van Khoa (name changed, 45 years old, Ho Chi Minh City) was diagnosed with HIV at the age of 30. Due to inferiority complex and thinking that he could not live long, he did not actively treat himself even though his health was still stable at that time.
A few years later, his health declined, he often had fever, colds and coughs lasting for many months, he came to the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment, Go Vap Ward Health Station (formerly Ho Chi Minh City Interdisciplinary Clinic for Tuberculosis - HIV). Doctors discovered he had additional tuberculosis and lung fungus, requiring emergency treatment. After a period of treatment, his health gradually stabilized.
However, for nearly a year now, due to work, Mr. Khoa has abandoned HIV treatment and is currently being mobilized by medical staff to return for treatment.
According to Dr. Thach Thi Ca - Head of the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment, Go Vap Ward Health Station, prolonged treatment abstinence can cause the HIV virus to increase again, increasing the risk of drug resistance and opportunistic infections. When the viral load increases, the risk of HIV transmission to partners also increases.
At the facility, the rate of patients voluntarily abandoning treatment is currently below 5%. The main reasons are changes in residence, work or personal conditions. The facility is managing about 2,000 HIV-infected people, including patients from other provinces and cities.
To support patients to maintain treatment, medication can be prescribed in 3-month intervals. People who regularly work far away are advised to receive medication locally. Doctors also regularly advise on adherence to treatment and health insurance benefits for patients.
Abandoning treatment for a long time, when returning, the patient's health usually has declined. If not treated promptly and suffering from dangerous diseases, the risk of death is also higher," Dr. Ca warned.
End-line infectious disease hospitals record high number of HIV infection deaths
Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Tropical Diseases is a specialized hospital at the final level for infectious diseases, which currently also records a high increase in the number of cases of HIV infection voluntarily abandoning treatment. According to hospital data, in the first 6 months of 2026, this facility received 853 HIV patients for inpatient treatment, of which 45 cases required ventilators. In 2025 alone, the number of HIV patients hospitalized for treatment was 1,773 cases, an increase of 48% compared to 2022.
In the past 4 years, HIV/AIDS has also been the highest cause of death in hospitals, with 568 cases.
Nationwide, there are currently about 250,000 people carrying the HIV virus. The epidemic is strongly concentrated in the group of men who have sex with men (MSM), accounting for more than 40% of new infections.
It is noteworthy that the increase in the number of HIV patients requiring inpatient treatment at the Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Tropical Diseases is taking place in the context that the number of new infections and deaths from HIV in the world as well as in Vietnam is decreasing. Compared to 2010, the number of new infections globally decreased by 42%, while Vietnam recorded a decrease of 56%.
According to Dr. Nguyen Thanh Dung, Director of Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Tropical Diseases, the increase in the number of HIV patients hospitalized does not mean that the epidemic is breaking out again. This development mainly shows that there is still a part of patients who are detected when the disease has progressed severely, voluntarily stop treating or have not accessed antiviral drugs (ARVs).
Many cases only come to the hospital when dangerous opportunistic infections such as tuberculosis, pneumonia, fungal infections... have appeared due to severe immune system decline. At that time, patients may need intensive resuscitation treatment, including mechanical ventilation or blood filtration.
