South Africa has the largest population of people living with HIV - an estimated 5.6 million South Africans. Through the US Government’s President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), more than 300 implementing partners, including Management Sciences for Health (MSH), are involved in implementing South Africa’s HIV/AIDS and STI National Strategic Plan. One of the key priority areas of this plan is to provide treatment, care, and support to 80% of HIV positive people and their families.

The USAID-funded Strengthening Pharmaceutical Systems (SPS) Program, implemented by MSH focuses on strengthening pharmaceutical services at the national, provincial and local government levels, thereby supporting access to medicines and quality of service delivery, which are two of the South African Government’s priorities. Unless essential, safe, and quality health products are available in the right quantities, and are used correctly, the objectives of providing quality care for the treatment and prevention of HIV and AIDS cannot be met. SPS coordinates and collaborates with the Directorate of Affordable Medicines of the National Department of Health and local partners to address key pharmaceutical priority areas at the national, provincial and local levels, aimed at strengthening the capacity of pharmacy personnel to improve access to and use of health commodities for the treatment and care of those affected by HIV/AIDS.

In addition, support in related key areas, such as infection control, patient safety and adherence monitoring, implementation of core standards for service delivery, development of norms and standards for pharmacy personnel, leadership training is also provided by SPS. The SPS Program in South Africa is implemented through several memoranda of understanding with local key counterparts, including provincial departments of health and the local government, which delineate priority areas of collaboration and technical assistance.

Over the next few years, South Africa will greatly increase the entire spectrum of HIV/AIDS interventions. The health system response will continue to require further scale-up to provide anti-retroviral therapy (ART) for additional patients and must cope with long-term support for the increasing numbers of patients already on ART. The availability of a sufficient number of personnel who have the necessary competencies, efficient procurement and distribution of appropriate medicines, thorough patient safety, and competent drug information and systems for the monitoring and evaluation of the program will continue to be of paramount importance. SPS has been identified as one of the key partners by the United States Government and the South African Government to provide such support.

Events & Activities

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