India's National AIDS Control Organization to encourage development of public-private partnerships

India's National AIDS Control Organization plans to encourage the development of public-private partnerships in the fight against HIV/AIDS under the third phase of the country's National AIDS Control Program, which is scheduled to be launched in April, The Hindu reports.

Under the third phase, a national steering committee -- which will include the Confederation of Indian Industry, the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India, the National Association of Software and Service Companies, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the International Labour Organization and USAID -- will be established to identify ways of bolstering links between the private and governmental sectors.

NACP's third phase will aim to utilize the strengths of the private sector, as well as to encourage it to offer prevention and treatment services as part of employee benefit programs.

NACP also will provide links to governmental services, such as capacity building and support and outreach programs.

In addition, government consultants will identify potential geographic areas and issues with which the private sector can become involved, including providing support for vulnerable or affected groups, mobile testing and counseling units, and behavior change communication activities.

According to The Hindu, India's government will aim to collaborate with private sector health care providers to offer HIV/AIDS treatment to an additional seven million people, including high-risk and impoverished populations.

NACP estimates that because at least 75,000 to one million HIV-positive people will seek care in the private sector, an additional 126 antiretroviral drug treatment centers will be needed nationwide (Dhar, The Hindu, 1/3).