Formalizing private provider participation in the national integrated HIV care program
Several non-governmental organizations (NGOs) currently provide HIV care services as part of the country’s national integrated HIV care program. Although these NGOs are working to diversify their revenue sources to become more sustainable, they are still largely dependent on donor organizations and the government to finance their operations. Unlike with donor organizations, there is no formal mechanism for NGOs and other private providers to apply to participate in the Dominican Republic’s HIV care program. Also, the government does not have a system in place to monitor the quality of private providers already in the program or assess the suitability of new providers wishing to participate.
To address this gap, SHOPS Plus will support the government to develop transparent, formal, and competitive processes for accrediting private providers to participate in the national integrated HIV care program. Once established, this public-private partnership mechanism will allow the government to formalize relationships with existing NGOs, ensure the quality of NGO services and compliance with clinical guidelines and national objectives, and eventually enable the expansion of NGO and private for-profit providers in the national HIV program.
Learn more about HIV and public-private engagement.