Ethical compliance at Integrated Counselling and Testing Centres (ICTCs)

[Guest guest]

(Editors note follows the text of the message)

Dear all,

With regard to ethical compliance at ICTCs, one often entangle around

arguments ranging from inadequate infrastructure, non-trained manpower

(including training received on the philosophy of ethics), heavy

turnover and workload, poor coordination for referrals and follow up,

issues of service quality etc., which are known to hamper

individuals decision making rights, privacy, confidentiality and

access to follow-up services.

These concerns were also witnessed as part of my recent association for a

research study on HIV affected families and children. In view of service

provisions through ICTCs :

1. Has there been any practical guideline, training curriculum/module

for service providers on ethical compliance related to HIV/AIDS

through ICTCs ?

2. Has there been any good practice documented on addressing an

appropriate ethical concern/ issue through ICTCs ?

Regards,

Kaveesher Krishnan

Hyderabad

e-mail: <kaveesher@...>

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Editors note: Operational Guidelines for Integrated Counselling and Testing

Centres (ICTC) (NACO 2007) According to this guidelines, the HIV counselling

and testing services, started in the year 1997, have been scaled up in the

recent years. !Today, there are more than 4000 Counselling and Testing Centres

which are located at all levels of the public health-care system. The earlier

Voluntary Counselling and Testing Centres (VCTCs) and facilities providing

Prevention of Parent-to-Child Transmission of HIV/AIDS (PPTCT) services are now

remodelled as a hub to deliver integrated services to all clients under one roof

and renamed as “Integrated Counselling and Testing Centres” (ICTCs).

The new ICTC operational guidelines aim to ensure uniformity in counselling and

testing services across the country. The guidelines are a guide on various

administrative, financial and operational issues to all concerned so that the

highest quality of services are offered to clients who visit ICTCs. The minimum

physical infrastructure, equipment as well communication aids required in an

ICTC are detailed. The training protocol for various categories of staff as well

as the duties of different staff members in an ICTC are also described.

A pdf version of the Operational Guidelines for Integrated Counselling and

Testing Centres (NACO 2007) is available on the following url.

http://www.nacoonline.org/upload/FinalPublications/OperationalGuidelinesforInteg\

ratedCounselingandTestingCentres.pdf