Understanding the environment into which microbicides will be introduced is essential to developing successful introduction strategies. With funding from the European Community, IPM commissioned Constella Futures Europe to produce a series of country profiles for India, Nigeria, Rwanda and Tanzania in 2006. These studies bring together basic information relevant to future microbicide access including: national policy and decision-making processes; demographic and epidemiological information; existing coverage of HIV and sexual and reproductive health services; regulatory approval and licensing processes; local manufacturing capacity; and procurement and financing capacity and procedures. Similar profiles were also developed for South Africa and Zambia.
