Transition of HIV prevention in three Southeast Asian countries: challenges and responses to the withdrawal of the Global Fund funding

Abstract The Global Fund has long been the largest international assistance in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) responses for three Southeast Asian countries, including Myanmar, Laos, and Vietnam. However, it recently decided to reduce or withdraw its funding from countries not yet going through donor phase-out, aiming to make these countries respond with their own resources. In examining whether these three countries are well-prepared to donor transition, we uncover potential challenges that will appear in their healthcare systems and especially in the prevention and control for vulnerable populations. By reviewing China's successful experience in donor transition, we propose recommendations for these pre-transition countries, in terms of program operation, budget allocation, and social stigmatization.