Integrating HIV/AIDS services into financial protection systems to increase sustainability of the HIV/AIDS response

Abstract Begun in 2014, the Sustainable Financing Initiative (SFI) was dedicated to mobilizing domestic resources for the HIV response. Among its three programmatic pillars was a focus on ensuring financial protection for people living with HIV (PLHIV). SFI’s activities were founded on a strong unde...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Judy Chang, Mai Hijazi, Susanna Baker, Onyeka Igboelina, Carlyn Mann, Hannah Marqusee, Cam Anh Nguyen, Carolina Piña, Jemeh Pius, Robert Stanley, Zacheaus Zeh Akiy
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-05-01
Series:BMC Health Services Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-12528-9
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849704236755976192
author Judy Chang
Mai Hijazi
Susanna Baker
Onyeka Igboelina
Carlyn Mann
Hannah Marqusee
Cam Anh Nguyen
Carolina Piña
Jemeh Pius
Robert Stanley
Zacheaus Zeh Akiy
author_facet Judy Chang
Mai Hijazi
Susanna Baker
Onyeka Igboelina
Carlyn Mann
Hannah Marqusee
Cam Anh Nguyen
Carolina Piña
Jemeh Pius
Robert Stanley
Zacheaus Zeh Akiy
author_sort Judy Chang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Begun in 2014, the Sustainable Financing Initiative (SFI) was dedicated to mobilizing domestic resources for the HIV response. Among its three programmatic pillars was a focus on ensuring financial protection for people living with HIV (PLHIV). SFI’s activities were founded on a strong understanding of and alignment with partner government priorities, as well as costing and actuarial analyses, which allowed for the development of context-specific approaches for improving financial protection for PLHIV. SFI implemented financial protection activities in a total of nine countries; the five countries with the most substantial investments are discussed in this paper. In Vietnam, SFI’s support helped the country to integrate almost all outpatient HIV treatment facilities into the public health system, attain enrollment of 90% of PLHIV into Social Health Insurance (SHI), and increase domestic funding for HIV through SHI. In Cambodia, SFI supported the development of a guiding framework for integration of HIV/AIDS services into the existing health system; key achievements included a policy change that expanded eligibility for the country’s Health Equity Fund, allowing all PLHIV to access free health services. In the Dominican Republic, SFI support led to the inclusion of antiretroviral drugs in the family health insurance benefit package, increased enrollment of PLHIV in health insurance, and expanded care options through non-governmental organizations. In Nigeria, SFI’s support helped to enroll more than 600,000 people and empanel 216 health facilities into the Lagos State Health Insurance Scheme. In Cameroon, SFI support helped the government achieve stepwise progress on key building blocks of its planned new universal health coverage system; SFI contributed to the development of a consolidated package of services, standardized care and service protocols, and accreditation criteria. SFI’s investments in financial protection demonstrated that with strong political will; long-term engagement with partner governments; and focused technical assistance for advocacy, policy reform, and implementation support, HIV services can be successfully integrated into financial protection systems. Such integration can promote increased, long-term domestic financing for HIV while also protecting PLHIV from financial risk.
format Article
id doaj-art-8b60d301c1624a72a60bfb5392d97653
institution DOAJ
issn 1472-6963
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series BMC Health Services Research
spelling doaj-art-8b60d301c1624a72a60bfb5392d976532025-08-20T03:16:50ZengBMCBMC Health Services Research1472-69632025-05-0124S111710.1186/s12913-025-12528-9Integrating HIV/AIDS services into financial protection systems to increase sustainability of the HIV/AIDS responseJudy Chang0Mai Hijazi1Susanna Baker2Onyeka Igboelina3Carlyn Mann4Hannah Marqusee5Cam Anh Nguyen6Carolina Piña7Jemeh Pius8Robert Stanley9Zacheaus Zeh Akiy10Office of HIV/AIDS, Global Health Bureau, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)Office of HIV/AIDS, Global Health Bureau, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)Office of HIV/AIDS, Global Health Bureau, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis Office, USAID NigeriaOffice of Development Cooperation; Policy, Planning, and Learning Bureau; USAIDOffice of Public Health and Education, USAID CambodiaHealth Office, USAID VietnamHealth Office, USAID Dominican RepublicOffice of HIV/AIDS, Global Health Bureau, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)Health Office, USAID TanzaniaHealth Office, USAID CameroonAbstract Begun in 2014, the Sustainable Financing Initiative (SFI) was dedicated to mobilizing domestic resources for the HIV response. Among its three programmatic pillars was a focus on ensuring financial protection for people living with HIV (PLHIV). SFI’s activities were founded on a strong understanding of and alignment with partner government priorities, as well as costing and actuarial analyses, which allowed for the development of context-specific approaches for improving financial protection for PLHIV. SFI implemented financial protection activities in a total of nine countries; the five countries with the most substantial investments are discussed in this paper. In Vietnam, SFI’s support helped the country to integrate almost all outpatient HIV treatment facilities into the public health system, attain enrollment of 90% of PLHIV into Social Health Insurance (SHI), and increase domestic funding for HIV through SHI. In Cambodia, SFI supported the development of a guiding framework for integration of HIV/AIDS services into the existing health system; key achievements included a policy change that expanded eligibility for the country’s Health Equity Fund, allowing all PLHIV to access free health services. In the Dominican Republic, SFI support led to the inclusion of antiretroviral drugs in the family health insurance benefit package, increased enrollment of PLHIV in health insurance, and expanded care options through non-governmental organizations. In Nigeria, SFI’s support helped to enroll more than 600,000 people and empanel 216 health facilities into the Lagos State Health Insurance Scheme. In Cameroon, SFI support helped the government achieve stepwise progress on key building blocks of its planned new universal health coverage system; SFI contributed to the development of a consolidated package of services, standardized care and service protocols, and accreditation criteria. SFI’s investments in financial protection demonstrated that with strong political will; long-term engagement with partner governments; and focused technical assistance for advocacy, policy reform, and implementation support, HIV services can be successfully integrated into financial protection systems. Such integration can promote increased, long-term domestic financing for HIV while also protecting PLHIV from financial risk.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-12528-9Financial protectionHealth financingHealth insuranceHealth systems strengtheningHIV/AIDSSustainability
spellingShingle Judy Chang
Mai Hijazi
Susanna Baker
Onyeka Igboelina
Carlyn Mann
Hannah Marqusee
Cam Anh Nguyen
Carolina Piña
Jemeh Pius
Robert Stanley
Zacheaus Zeh Akiy
Integrating HIV/AIDS services into financial protection systems to increase sustainability of the HIV/AIDS response
BMC Health Services Research
Financial protection
Health financing
Health insurance
Health systems strengthening
HIV/AIDS
Sustainability
title Integrating HIV/AIDS services into financial protection systems to increase sustainability of the HIV/AIDS response
title_full Integrating HIV/AIDS services into financial protection systems to increase sustainability of the HIV/AIDS response
title_fullStr Integrating HIV/AIDS services into financial protection systems to increase sustainability of the HIV/AIDS response
title_full_unstemmed Integrating HIV/AIDS services into financial protection systems to increase sustainability of the HIV/AIDS response
title_short Integrating HIV/AIDS services into financial protection systems to increase sustainability of the HIV/AIDS response
title_sort integrating hiv aids services into financial protection systems to increase sustainability of the hiv aids response
topic Financial protection
Health financing
Health insurance
Health systems strengthening
HIV/AIDS
Sustainability
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-12528-9
work_keys_str_mv AT judychang integratinghivaidsservicesintofinancialprotectionsystemstoincreasesustainabilityofthehivaidsresponse
AT maihijazi integratinghivaidsservicesintofinancialprotectionsystemstoincreasesustainabilityofthehivaidsresponse
AT susannabaker integratinghivaidsservicesintofinancialprotectionsystemstoincreasesustainabilityofthehivaidsresponse
AT onyekaigboelina integratinghivaidsservicesintofinancialprotectionsystemstoincreasesustainabilityofthehivaidsresponse
AT carlynmann integratinghivaidsservicesintofinancialprotectionsystemstoincreasesustainabilityofthehivaidsresponse
AT hannahmarqusee integratinghivaidsservicesintofinancialprotectionsystemstoincreasesustainabilityofthehivaidsresponse
AT camanhnguyen integratinghivaidsservicesintofinancialprotectionsystemstoincreasesustainabilityofthehivaidsresponse
AT carolinapina integratinghivaidsservicesintofinancialprotectionsystemstoincreasesustainabilityofthehivaidsresponse
AT jemehpius integratinghivaidsservicesintofinancialprotectionsystemstoincreasesustainabilityofthehivaidsresponse
AT robertstanley integratinghivaidsservicesintofinancialprotectionsystemstoincreasesustainabilityofthehivaidsresponse
AT zacheauszehakiy integratinghivaidsservicesintofinancialprotectionsystemstoincreasesustainabilityofthehivaidsresponse