VAC/GMHC APPLAUDES WIDER ACCESS TO ANTIRETROVIRAL TREATMENT

VAC/GMHC applauds the government’s decision to remove the obligatory CD4 + <500 count criteria for prescribing HIV treatment. This reform means that all people living with HIV will have equal access to HIV treatments, irrespective of their CD4 count or the stage of their disease progression.
VAC/GMHC President, Greg Carter, welcomed the reform. Mr Carter said that “the change is consistent with the Melbourne Declaration, which VAC/GMHC is a signatory party. One of the key action areas in the Melbourne Declaration is the removal of the PBS indication limiting antiretroviral drug prescribing above CD4 counts of 500. This change will also support our organisation’s Ending HIV campaign which advocates for early initiation of HIV treatment. Removing this impediment to treatment will also provide people living with HIV, who have a high CD4 count, with an added incentive to commence a conversation around HIV treatment.”
Whilst there has been no clinical benefit demonstrated in commencing treatment with a CD4 count above 500, there is a significant psychological benefit conferred on people living with HIV to having an undetectable viral load. Now, with scientific evidence that it undetectable viral load reduces transmission risk to ‘zero’ the removal of any structural barriers to treatment uptake may also impact on future rates of HIV transmission.
There is also the added benefit of preventing onward transmission of HIV. Treatment can reduce a person’s HIV viral load to undetectable levels. This benefit provides people living with HIV in relationships, or about to enter into an intimate relationship, with the comfort of knowing that the likelihood of transmission can be greatly reduced by the use of treatment.
VAC/GMHC CEO Simon Ruth said the change in regulations is “great news for people living with HIV.” Mr Ruth stresses “the importance HIV treatment being commenced when the individual is willing and able to make this decision. Commencing HIV treatment is no small commitment, it requires lifelong adherence to daily regimen of medication. Any decision to commence treatment must balance the individual benefits of treatment against the benefits HIV treatment in reducing the viral load of the individual on treatment.”
Mr Ruth called on the State government to show the same commitment as the Commonwealth in making HIV treatment available to all people living with HIV. Mr Ruth said this could be achieved by “removing dispensing fees for HIV treatment and broadening HIV dispending arrangements beyond hospital based pharmacies.”
For more information contact heath_paynter@vicaids.asn.au