Leveraging the private health sector to expand the HIV/AIDS workforce

As countries work to expand access to HIV/AIDS care and other priority health services in order to achieve a range of global health goals, they must effectively engage the private sector as employers of the health workforce, and as a significant source of priority health services for clients of all income levels. National HIV responses in many countries are constrained by human resources for health (HRH) shortages; thus it is critical to leverage the existing private health care workforce more effectively, and to see the private sector as potential employers for the additional health workers needed to scale-up and maintain the HIV response. The Sustaining Health Outcomes through Private Sector Plus (SHOPS Plus) project conducted a qualitative study funded by PEPFAR through USAID that examined points along the HIV clinical cascade to leverage private providers; how private providers are innovating to attract, retain, and grow their HRH and deploying community-based HRH to sustain their operations; and the role of the public sector in supporting the private sector to strengthen and grow its health workforce.