Australia: New Medicine Access Scheme for New South Wales HIV Patients

On World AIDS Day, the government of New South Wales debuted a plan allowing HIV patients to have their medications delivered to their home or workplace. "The Enhanced Medication Access Scheme will give people living with HIV better access to treatments than ever before," said a statement from Health Minister Jillian Skinner. Six pharmacies in Sydney and one in Lismore also will serve as pickup locations. "People living with HIV have waited over 15 years for more convenient access to their medications. Not only will we be improving access to these lifesaving treatments, but we hope that with more people with HIV on treatments we will be able to simultaneously lower the number of new infections." The new service "will be particularly helpful for people with HIV who live in outer metropolitan and regional areas and need to travel long distances to a hospital pharmacy," said Malcolm Leech, president of the support group Positive Life NSW.

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