In the past, Vietnam’s HIV response did not officially include the private sector or reference it as part of resourcing plans. While the role of the private sector in the country’s HIV response has grown-- with more than 150 private sector entities collectively investing $14.1 million in HIV goods and services over the past ten years, and private clinics delivering about 50% of all pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) services--the lack of a national plan to guide private sector involvement in the HIV program has limited its full potential. Over the past year, USAID, through its Healthy Markets and USAID Support for Technical Excellence and Private Sector Sustainability in Vietnam projects, has supported the Vietnam Administration for HIV/AIDS Control to design Vietnam’s first-ever national HIV Private-Sector Engagement (PSE) Plan which provides detailed direction on the engagement of private-sector entities as part of the National Strategy to End AIDS by 2030. On October 20, more than 120 national and provincial health leaders, and representatives from USAID, the private sector, and HIV program partners convened to mark the release of the plan and establish working mechanisms for implementing it over the coming four years.
The roll-out of the HIV PSE Plan represents a turning point in Vietnam’s HIV response, providing a comprehensive framework for forging strategic new partnerships with the private sector to enhance the sustainability of essential prevention and treatment services.
PATH
