Joint Clinical Research Centre

JCRC pioneered the use of antiretroviral therapy in Uganda and the Sub Saharan African region in 1992, when it conducted the first antiretroviral therapy trial in Africa aimed at determing the safe and effective use of Zidovudine. Between From 1998 to 2000, JCRC was one of the five sites that participated in the UNAIDS drug access initiative that was a cost recovery program to provide antiretroviral treatment to patients. In 2002, JCRC led the Ugandan public sector expansion of antiretroviral therapy services to the districts and started expansion of ART to eastern and Western regions of the country, setting up regional centres of excellence in Mbale, Kabale and Mbarara. This was made possible because of importation of generic antiretroviral drugs which were more affordable for patients by then. From December 2003, JCRC succeeded in efficiently scaling up availability and access to quality ART and comprehensive HIV/AIDS services through funding received from PEPFAR and collaborations with key partners like Ministry of Health, as well as national and international organizations. JCRC is the largest PEPFAR fund recipient ($69.2M from Dec 2003 - Sept 2010) under the Timetable for Regional Expansion of Antiretroviral Therapy (TREAT) Program. Currently, JCRC is responsible for providing HIV care services to over 110,000 clients with over 45,000 patients on antiretroviral therapy.

Operationally, JCRC is structured into different departments which work together with an aim of providing quality patient care. These departments include the adult and peadiatric outpatient departments, inpatients ward, adherence and counselling, pharmacy and laboratory. Other departments which support patient care include data / IT, communications, logistics, administration, finance and audit. The institution also operates a full-time TB clinic which provides specialised treatment and monitoring of TB cases among its clients. A private clinic has been opened at the Mengo site, for clients who opt for specialised and private attention, with plans of extending such private services to other Regional Centres of Excellence.