- Co-payment waiver for HIV antiretroviral medication in Queensland has taken effect from 3 October 2023
- Waiver applies to all people living with HIV in Queensland, even those ineligible for Medicare
- Antiretrovirals stop HIV from replicating in the body, protect the immune system and ensure a long and heathy life
- HIV antiretrovirals prevent HIV being transmitted to sexual partners
Queenslanders with HIV can now access their HIV treatment for free, with Queensland Health waiving co-payments for antiretroviral therapy.
The waiver applies to all people living with HIV in Queensland, regardless of their Medicare status.
HIV antiretroviral medication works to stop HIV from replicating in the body, protecting the immune system, ensuring a long and heathy life and prevents HIV being transmitted to sexual partners.
The co-payment for HIV medication dispensed in Queensland will be waived at all Queensland public hospital pharmacies and community pharmacies in the state.
Medicare-ineligible people residing in Queensland can access free HIV-related medical care, pathology testing and treatment through public health facilities, such as sexual health clinics and public hospital pharmacies.
Queensland Health is committed to achieving the UNAIDS HIV 95-95-95 targets which seek to ensure that:
- 95 per cent of HIV-positive people know their HIV status
- 95 per cent of people who know their HIV-positive status are on antiretroviral therapy and
- 95 per cent of people on antiretroviral therapy maintain an undetectable viral load to reduce onward transmission.
Quotes attributable to the Minister for Health, Mental Health and Ambulance Services Shannon Fentiman:
“This is an important milestone towards our goal of eliminating HIV as a public health threat by 2030.
“By reducing the financial burden for those who need HIV medication, we can improve access and help reduce the risk of HIV transmission in the community.
“We know that we are on the right track with 100 cases of HIV recorded in 2022 compared to 246 cases in 2014.
“By removing barriers and waiving the co-payment for antiretroviral HIV medications, we can ensure equitable access to safe and affordable healthcare.
“I will continue working with peer and community organisations like Queensland Positive People to reduce new HIV infections, increased testing rates, improved access to treatment, and reduce stigma and discrimination.”
Quotes attributable to Queensland Positive People President, Mark Counter:
“Equitable free access to treatment has long been a goal of QPP.
“We applaud the Queensland Government for their commitment to ensuring all people living with HIV in Queensland regardless of their circumstances will have access to free HIV treatment, allowing us to achieve an undetectable viral load and live long, healthy lives.”
