Infectious Diseases

From 1st July 2022, people with HIV who are ineligible for Medicare will be able to access their treatment free of charge through government-funded hospital pharmacies

ASHM & NAPWHA will ensure that developments around this initiative will be communicated to the clinical workforce, to people with HIV and other stakeholders.  

From 1^st July, people with HIV who are ineligible for Medicare, and who previously received HIV medication through compassionate access schemes, will be required to transition to alternative access arrangements in order to receive government-funded treatment*.

Option 1: individuals will need to engage in care with a public hospital-based physician and have their medication dispensed from a hospital pharmacy. The cost of consultations and any required pathology will be covered by the hospital.

Option 2: individuals can continue to see their regular s100 prescriber but will need to have their medication dispensed from a hospital pharmacy. The cost of the consult, and any required pathology will need to be covered by the patient or practice.

Option 3: individuals will need to engage in care with a publicly funded sexual health clinic and have their medication dispensed from a hospital pharmacy. The cost of consultations, and any required pathology will be covered by the sexual health clinic.

Option 4: individuals can still need to access their medication through the self-importation scheme at their own cost.

*any additional care or medication costs associated with side effects from treatment will not be covered by this government-funded scheme.

Sexually transmissible infections and blood borne viruses (Animation videos in English) – Watch here.