Public prescription drug plan coverage for antiretrovirals and the potential cost to people living with HIV in Canada: a descriptive study

Deborah Yoong; Ahmed M. Bayoumi; Linda Robinson; Beth Rachlis; Tony Antoniou

doi:10.9778/cmajo.20180058

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Free HIV meds for ALL!
Robert A Obara

Posted on: 10 June 2019

Posted on: (10 June 2019)
Page navigation anchor for Free HIV meds for ALL!
Free HIV meds for ALL!
Robert A Obara, Family Physician
It is an absolute travesty that medications that treat and prevent the transmission of HIV are not free for all Canadians. Shame on the governments of Newfoundland, Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan, and Quebec for failing to serve their communities. Highly active anti-retroviral treatment (HAART) is indicated at the onset of the diagnosis of HIV. Comprehensive studies have proven that an undetectable viral load is unt...
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It is an absolute travesty that medications that treat and prevent the transmission of HIV are not free for all Canadians. Shame on the governments of Newfoundland, Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan, and Quebec for failing to serve their communities. Highly active anti-retroviral treatment (HAART) is indicated at the onset of the diagnosis of HIV. Comprehensive studies have proven that an undetectable viral load is untransmittable: "U=U". By preventing one additional case of HIV it is estimated that hundreds of thousands of dollars are spared. These
and newer data also support the use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), which is free in some provinces only. Here in Winnipeg I have seen a number of patients who have HIV delay or stop treatment because of high out-of-pocket expenses. As a developed nation we have no right treating our 'working poor' so poorly.
Conflict of Interest:
None declared
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Competing Interests: None declared.