World AIDS Day, observed every year on 1 December, serves as a reminder of the ongoing battle against HIV/AIDS, a global epidemic that has claimed millions of lives and continues to affect millions more. As we reflect on the progress made in HIV prevention, care, and treatment, it’s crucial to recognize the unsung heroes in this fight: the health supply chains that ensure essential HIV products reach the people who need them most.
At the Partnership for Supply Chain Management (PFSCM), we are committed to strengthening health supply chains and ensuring that lifesaving HIV products—such as antiretrovirals (ARVs), diagnostics, and preventative tools—are accessible, affordable, and delivered efficiently. As the theme for this year’s World AIDS Day, “Take the Rights Path: My Health, My Right!” underscores, the right to health is a fundamental human right, and sustainable, equitable supply chains are integral to realizing that right for all.
The path that ends AIDS: UNAIDS Global AIDS Update 2023
The critical role of supply chains in the HIV response
The HIV epidemic, which began in the early 1980s, has claimed the lives of over 40 million people and continues to affect millions globally. In 2022 alone, 39 million people were living with HIV, and more than 630,000 people died from HIV-related illnesses. While significant strides have been made, particularly with the advent of antiretroviral therapy, the battle is far from over.
One key challenge in the HIV response is ensuring that essential health products—ARVs, diagnostic tests, prevention tools like pre-exposure prophylaxis PrEP, and treatments for co-infections—reach those who need them. Supply chains play a crucial role in ensuring that these products are not only available but also affordable, of high quality, and delivered without disruption.
For decades, low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) have faced challenges in securing a reliable supply of HIV-related products due to weak infrastructure, logistical barriers, and high costs. However, as global awareness and funding for HIV have increased, so too has the recognition of the importance of supply chain management in overcoming these obstacles.
Strengthening supply chains for greater impact
At PFSCM, we recognize that effective and sustainable supply chains are not just about moving products from one point to another. They are about ensuring that lifesaving medications, diagnostics, and preventative tools reach health facilities in the right quantities, at the right time, and in the right condition. Our work is focused on building resilient supply chains that can meet the demand for HIV care, even in the most challenging environments.
1. Strategic sourcing and procurement
PFSCM develops diverse, sustainable supplier bases and maintains strong supplier relationships. We employ procurement best practices and facilitate indefinite quantity contracts, long-term agreements, rental options, outright purchases, hybrid agreements, and all-inclusive agreements to ensure the availability and affordability of essential HIV products.
2. Logistics and inventory management
Efficient logistics and inventory management are critical for preventing stockouts and wastage of HIV products. By leveraging advanced forecasting and supply planning tools, PFSCM ensures that HIV medications and diagnostics are available where and when they are needed. Our approach includes the use of multi-month dispensing, strategic stockpiling in regional warehouses, and robust cold chain management systems to maintain the integrity of temperature-sensitive products like vaccines and reagents.
In 2023, PFSCM proudly maintained a perfect track record for cold chain shipments, with zero insurance claims for cold chain-related issues. This level of reliability is essential for the effectiveness of HIV diagnostic tests and reagents, ensuring that patients receive the correct diagnosis and treatment without delays.
3. Ensuring access to diagnostics and testing
Access to timely HIV testing is fundamental in the fight against the epidemic. Early diagnosis is essential for both preventing transmission and ensuring that individuals receive appropriate treatment. PFSCM supports the global HIV response by providing HIV rapid diagnostic tests (HRDTs), viral load (VL) testing kits, and dried blood spot (DBS) kits for early infant diagnosis (EID). These diagnostic tools help health systems monitor treatment efficacy and identify patients who may need additional interventions.
In many low-resource settings, DBS kits are a critical tool for testing infants born to HIV-positive mothers. Our guide to selecting DBS kits emphasizes the importance of choosing high-quality kits that deliver accurate, reliable results to ensure that infants receive timely and appropriate care. By improving the diagnostic capacity of healthcare providers, PFSCM contributes to better treatment outcomes for individuals living with HIV.
Beyond treatment: the importance of co-infection management
In addition to increasing access to lifesaving HIV products and tools, PFSCM plays a crucial role in managing co-infections that often complicate HIV care, such as tuberculosis (TB), Hepatitis B and C, and human papillomavirus (HPV). HIV and TB are particularly linked, with individuals living with HIV being at significantly higher risk of developing TB. However, the rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is increasingly complicating the treatment of these co-infections, especially drug-resistant TB, which requires more complex and prolonged treatment regimens.
PFSCM’s integrated supply chain solutions not only ensure access to high-quality medicines for TB and other co-infections but also provide diagnostic tools to monitor and manage resistance. By supporting effective, timely treatment and preventing the misuse of antimicrobials, PFSCM helps mitigate the risks of AMR. This comprehensive approach to HIV care, including the treatment of co-infections and the management of AMR, improves the overall health and well-being of individuals living with HIV, helping them live longer, healthier lives.
The path ahead: equity and sustainability in HIV care
The progress made in HIV treatment and care would not be possible without the tireless work of organizations across the global health community. However, there is still much work to be done. As we reflect on this World AIDS Day, we are reminded that the fight against HIV is not just about providing treatment; it is about ensuring that health systems are prepared to deliver comprehensive care and that everyone, regardless of where they live or their socio-economic status, has access to the products and services they need.
Our work at PFSCM is guided by the belief that access to healthcare is a right, not a privilege. Through effective procurement, logistics, and supply chain management, we are helping to ensure that essential HIV products are delivered where they are needed most, at the lowest possible cost, and with the highest possible quality.
Conclusion: take the right path
As we mark World AIDS Day 2024, we stand at a crossroads in the fight against HIV. The path forward requires continued innovation, collaboration, and a commitment to equity. It requires strengthening health supply chains to ensure that everyone, regardless of where they live, their socio-economic status, sexual orientation, or gender identity, has access to the products and services they need.
At PFSCM, we are proud to play our part in this global effort, working to make HIV treatment, prevention, and care a reality for all.
By taking the right path—ensuring access to quality HIV products through reliable and resilient supply chains—we are moving closer to a world where no one is left behind in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
My Health, My Right—is a fundamental principle that should be realized for everyone, ensuring equitable access to the care and treatment needed to live a healthy life.