Launched on May 2nd 2006, this innovative HIV care and treatment program, developed through a partnership of Family Health International, Kenya Medical Association and Pharm Access Africa Ltd, is developed with the purpose of keeping the HIV infected worker well and productive.  It is an innovative franchising approach that involves private doctors and hospitals to increase access to planned care and lifesaving treatment for HIV/AIDS.  

The Gold Star Network complements the ARV treatment gains made in the public health care system by increasing the options for people living with HIV/AIDS to access quality care and treatment and improve the quality and productivity of their lives. While it is not a free service, it is designed to substantially cut the health care bills for those who can pay for services. The Network offers an opportunity to employers and medical insurance schemes to provide affordable HIV care and comprehensive cover to their employees and their dependants.

Through its partnership with the Ministry of Health HIV treatment program, Gold Star Network facilitates referrals to the public care system for those no longer able to meet the costs of treatment in the private sector.  Treatment in the public care system is highly subsidized by the Government and her development partners. Through the public care treatment program, ARV drugs are provided free of charge.

This initiative however, aims to reduce the burden on public hospitals by using the potential and excess capacity in the private sector to fulfil the needs of HIV/AIDS patients and their families. At its core is a private health care model that involves training and  managing a network of accredited providers in private clinics, nursing homes, hospitals managed by faith-based organizations and charitable organizations, for-profit hospitals and workplace medical clinics to provide safe and affordable ART and HIV care to the highest standards of care.

Gold Star Network’s programmatic aim is to establish a managed network of competent clinical and counselling providers in the private sector who will deliver quality HIV care and treatment.  It is important to note that each network member delivers services that form an essential care package comprising a range of required services. These include HIV diagnosis, prevention counselling, screening for, prevention and management of opportunistic infections, routine assessments and laboratory diagnostic screening and antiretroviral treatment.

An important activity of the Gold Star Network is to provide training of clinical providers in line with national guidelines. Family Health International and Kenya Medical Association customized this training and developed modules based on a curriculum initially developed by the National STD and AIDS Control Programme (NASCOP) for healthcare providers in the public sector. Continuing medical education and competency-based mentorship is an integral part of the Network benefits to its providers, thereby ensuring that these providers are kept up-to-date in their knowledge and skills in the rapidly evolving field of HIV care and treatment.

Delivered through a tiered approach, peripheral and reference laboratories have been engaged to provide network diagnostic and monitoring support for clients on care and treatment.  These services are available to clinical providers at negotiated and discounted rates.  

Complementary services such as adherence counselling, nutrition and dietary counselling, psychosocial support are offered by providers linked to the Network.  Participating clinics and associated providers will display the yellow and brown Gold Star Logo, the Network symbol of quality of services and hope for the infected and affected.

To cut the drugs bill and remove supply bottlenecks, the Gold Star Network has developed a commodities management system for the procurement and supply of HIV drugs and test kits at access rates to providers directly through Pharm Access Africa Limited, a logistics management organization. This will immediately lessen the temptation for patients to stop treatment because drugs have run out or are too costly for them.