The Department of Health took the lead in establishing the National AIDS Prevention and Control Program in 1998 in response to the emerging threat of the global AIDS pandemic. In 1994, DOH integrated its STI program with the NAPC, which had been known as National AIDS STI Prevention and Control Program (NASPCP).

NASPCP is under the Infectious Disease Office of the National Center for Disease Prevention and Control (NCDPC). A Program Coordinator is designated, supervised by the Directors of IDO (Director III) and NCDPC (Director IV).

Presently the NASPCP has its distinct role of technical leadership in the STI/HIV/AIDS response in the health sector, wherein it provides policy guidance, technical assistance, capacity building and other resource augmentation as well as monitoring and evaluation within the ambit of the health care system.

NASPCP has coordinative role in other health programs of the DOH (AO on RH) and initiatives, such as maternal and child health, family planning, adolescent RH, blood safety and universal precaution among others in matters pertaining to STI/HIV/AIDS.

In 1995, DOH through the Hospital Management Office and the NASPCP enacted the policy guidelines on the creation of HIV AIDS Core Team as the focal point for all HIV related services in hospital setting, which is currently the platform for HIV counseling and testing, treatment of opportunistic infection, universal precaution and infection control, psychosocial support to people living with HIV and AIDS and clinical management of AIDS through provision of anti retro-viral drugs.

The Philippines has identified HIV and AIDS as one of the priority public health programs based on the Medium Term Philippine Development Plan 2004-2010, which is in cognizant of the country’s commitment to the Millennium Development Goals by 2015 (MDG) and the United National General Assembly Special Session on HIV and AIDS (UNGASS).

The NASPCP supports and contributes to the attainment of goals and objectives of the Fourth AIDS Medium Term Plan 2004-2010 (AMTP4) through the following goals, objectives and strategic thrusts for STI/HIV/AIDS in the health sector, which is also reflected in the Philippine health sector plan – National Objectives for Health 2005-2010.