Perceptions and practice of physicians treating HIV patients in the private sector in India: A cross sectional study

OBJECTIVES: To understand the perceptions of the private HIV physicians regarding HIV case management and reporting practices followed by the National AIDS Control Programme, India. METHODS: We conducted this cross-sectional study among 142 private practitioners attending Chennai ART Symposium 2017, from five south Indian states. We used a pre-structured questionnaire to collect information on demography, qualification, the number of HIV patients treated, ART regimen, and the reporting practices. EpiInfo 7.2 was used for data analysis. RESULTS: Out of the 142 private practitioners, 89 (63%) responded. All respondents had diagnosed and/or treated at least 10 HIV patients in the past 12 months. About 42% of respondents reported attending an orientation program on ART by the State AIDS Control Society (SACS). Seventy percent of respondents were aware of the National AIDS Control Organization’s (NACO) Public Private Partnership (PPP) initiative for private clinics, and 44% (39) reported sharing monthly reports with SACS. However, 77% of physicians were not interested to enroll due to increased paperwork and complicated reporting mechanisms. CONCLUSION: Private sector physicians treating People Living with HIV (PLHIV) are aware of NACO guidelines and reporting mechanisms. A simplified reporting process and an engaging platform are needed to facilitate reporting.