'We've been waiting for this for a long time': B.C. to fund HIV-prevention drug

People at high risk of becoming infected with the HIVvirus will soon be able to accessfree medication to protect against it in B.C.

Starting on Jan. 1, the province of British Columbiawill cover the costs ofpre-exposure prophylaxis treatment, also known as PrEP,and involving thedrugTruvada,for at-risk patients.The groundbreaking treatment that protects against HIV was developed in B.C.,but its high cost made it inaccessible to many until now.

Thanks in part toan agreement to secure ageneric form of Truvada, a once-a-day pill, by the B.C. Centre for Excellence for HIV/AIDS, the province has agreed to cover costs.

"By bringing down the cost ofTruvada, both for treatment and prevention,it makes a great opportunity for us to expand on our abilities to effectively control HIV in the province." said Dr. JulioMontaner, director ofB.C. Centre for Excellence for HIV/AIDS and apioneer of the treatment.

Montanersays that targeting groupswho are mostat-risk for being infected with HIV will be a key part of the success of the medication.

"If we were to capture the people who are at the highest risk of HIV infection we couldactually seea dramatic decrease in new infections in the next several years," said Montaner.

"All together, this [treatment] is part of ourstrategy to bring down HIV altogetherso we can open the door to a truly HIV-free generation in the future. "

Long wait for coverage

"We'vebeen waiting for this for a long time," said NeilSelf, chair of the board ofdirectorsof Positive Living B.C. and organizer of acampaignto getPrEPcovered by theprovince.

In 2016, Health Canada approved the use of Truvada as a PrEP, but did not cover the costly medication. Unable to afford the thousands of dollars to pay for the drug out-of pocket, some people sought out the drug online. In Vancouver, a group of gay menwho called themselvestheDavie Buyers Clubhelped to make the online purchasing process easier for those in need.

Men who have sex with men are disproportionately at risk of contracting the disease compared to other men, according toa 2017report by the B.C. Centre for Disease Control.

Selfis now hopeful that the drug will make a huge difference for people in the both the gay and HIV-positive communities who havenot been able to afford it.

Self explained the drug canhelppeople who want to prevent HIV,as well as people whoare HIVpositive andwant to have a relationship with some one who isnot HIV positive.

"It gives those people peace of mind," he said.

Drug can help fight stigma

Selfalso believes that once the drug becomes commonplace, the stigma of HIV-positive people will decrease.

"We know we get a lot of negative stigma in thiscommunity. I really think it's going to reduce the stigma because it will bejust likeusing a condom, and there is no stigmaassociatedwith that. "

While there has been criticism that PrEPcould encouragerisky sexual behaviour, Selfsays that the most important part is being able to help at-risk people for whom more conventional methods don't work.

"This will really help the people falling between the gaps and contracting HIV, and the sooner we can end transmission of HIV, the better."