Program and policy considerations for tenofovir gel in India: An overview

The 2011 National Sentinel Surveillance estimated that 1.9 million people in India aged 15 and older were living with HIV. An estimated 39 percent are women. Given the urgent need for HIV-prevention options for women, a number of efforts are underway to prepare for introduction of tenofovir gel should it be shown to be effective. One of these is a guide to assist policymakers and program managers in identifying the most strategic opportunities for introducing tenofovir gel. The guide includes three related components: a landscape analysis, a discussion guide for key opinion leader interviews, and a program planning tool. The landscape analysis, summarized in this program brief, reviews the epidemiologic context of the HIV epidemic, highlights key policies and programs related to HIV, and provides other information relevant to potential introduction of tenofovir vaginal gel in India. It draws on a desk review of peer-reviewed and gray literature as well as interviews with key decision-makers. The policy and program review summarized here underscores a generally favorable environment for introducing tenofovir gel in India