Combating HIV/AIDS in India: Public-Private Partnerships are Necessary for Success

The authors argue that, in order to optimize HIV/AIDS care in India, the essential requirement is to engage the private sector effectively alongside the public sector. They argue as well for a combination of strategies that are designed for the conditions encountered at state and local levels. These strategies importantly include regulations on the activities of pharmacies and providers of health services, who are competent to ensure a minimum standard of care to HIV-infected citizens. Regulatory strategies should be complemented by effective communication to and education of the public. The authors stress the importance of training and quality assurance of physicians via such re-certification processes as continuing medical education. They also stress the importance of introducing standards for measurement of access to services, their quality, and clinical outcomes.