How the National HIV/AIDS Response Can Strengthen the Health System in Myanmar Through the Support of Global Health Initiatives

Abstract

International financing plays a substantial role in driving the national HIV/AIDS response in Myanmar. This health policy and systems research is designed as a piece of descriptive work that employs a sequential iterative context-focused approach. It aims to propose policy recommendations to Myanmar for strengthening its health delivery system for the national HIV/AIDS response through the support of global health initiatives. This study reviews the current situation of the national HIV/AIDS response and finds that Myanmar has missed the opportunity to capitalize on the use of the Global Fund’s monies to strengthen the health system. We propose that strengthening service delivery platforms of township health systems will be the key to unlocking these opportunities in future. The role of complementary financing from other donors and domestic resources becomes instrumental to ensure sufficient resource allocation to the sub-national level. Deliberate planning is also required to optimize the use of those scarce resources. Several health system constraints and overarching issues that determine health service delivery and uptake are explored and discussed. Thus, this study will contribute to our global depository of knowledge about the constraints and challenges around health system strengthening in developing countries.