If South Africa followed WHO recommendations for earlier therapy for people living with HIV, thousands of lives could be extended and the country would start saving money after 16 years, according to a study recently published online in PLoS One, United Press International reports.

The study, which “used a mathematical model to predict the impact of adopting the new WHO guidelines on HIV prevalence, incidence and cost,” found the initial costs would “be greater because of the increased number of people now eligible for treatment,” the news agency writes, noting that in the long term, costs would decline because of a reduced number of HIV cases (7/26).