A differentiated approach to care aims to strengthen linkage, adherence and retention using a patient-centred approach throughout the treatment cascade. This is globally known as Differentiated Service Delivery (DSD) while in South Africa is termed Differentiated Models of Care (DMOC).

The “minimum DMOC package” to be implemented in all facilities in South Africa recognises that based on a patient’s specific population (e.g. adolescent), clinical characteristics (e.g. stable or established on ART) and context (e.g. urban), their short and long term adherence and retention will benefit from differentiating service provision into less and more intensive models of care and integrating chronic care.