Technical guide for HIV/AIDS medicines and related supplies: contemporary context and procurement

This guide from the World Bank sets out principles and advice for the procurement of HIV/AIDS medicines and related supplies for scaling up antiretroviral therapy (ART) and associated health services. It is aimed at World Bank staff, as well as those responsible for procuring HIV/AIDS medicines and related supplies in Bank-funded programmes and projects. The guide outlines key information and guidance on: estimating resource requirements, dealing with patents, managing the supply cycle for better outcomes, deciding who does what, deciding on quantities, assessing capacity, outlining commodities that support the HIV/AIDS programme, choosing procurement methods, pricing, and assessing the economic impact of ART.

The authors explain that, although there are guidance documents which outline the procurement of health goods, this guide specialises in procurement for HIV-related programmes. Key elements in this document include: focusing on resource-poor settings with little experience of ART treatment programmes; drawing attention to the unpredictable factors in scaling up ART, such as rapid increase in demand, appearance of new medicines, and sudden changes in the market; providing practical advice on intellectual property (IP) rights, including the array of options available to governments; and providing references to useful materials, with links to relevant documentation. [adapted from author]