AIDS is a global public health crisis of unparalleled proportions, yet too often the most vulnerable and marginalized populations are neglected and underrepresented in approaches to treating and preventing HIV/AIDS. To fill this gap, the Open Society Public Health Program works to support stigmatized and socially excluded groups like Roma and other ethnic minorities, injecting drug users, sex workers, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons.

The Public Health Program advocates for and provides grants to efforts to reform discriminatory or exclusionary policies; expand the availability of HIV treatment and prevention services like needle exchange and opiate substitution treatment for people who use drugs; increase civil society participation on issues of sexual health and rights; promote the inclusion of palliative care in AIDS funding strategies; and protect the human rights of people living with HIV.

The Global Health Financing Project works to ensure that global funding for health is raised, allocated, and used in ways that meet the health needs of marginalized persons, strengthen civil society engagement in decision-making, promote and respect human rights, and lead to greater accountability and transparency.

In particular, the project focuses on global health donors and financing mechanisms that support programs on HIV and AIDS, tuberculosis, and hepatitis C.