How has the COVID-19 response changed medicine deliveries for people living with or at risk of HIV?

Background: In response to COVID-19 being declared a pandemic, concerns were raised about the various implications for PLHIV, different communities affected by HIV and healthcare systems EATG collected several data using two rapid assessments (RAs) reporting the disruptions and solutions found at community level Given sanitary emergency measures, a question was included on how medicines were accessed by PLHIV safely and easily, to document medicines delivery practices in different locations Methods: EATG conducted an online survey-based RA with a data collection period from 27 March to 3 April 2020 The survey was addressed to PLHIV and communities most affected by HIV who are affiliated to or not to local organisations It included quantitative and qualitative questions in English It was disseminated through EATG and AIDS Action Europe networks The results of the first survey informed the questions of the second RA which was also available in Russian and was disseminated for response from 27 April to 4 May 2020 Results: In total, 39/51 respondents reported that HIV treatment was being delivered at hospital pharmacies and 11/51 reported that medicines could be accessed at local pharmacies (Figure 1) Public entities (19/51) and community organisations (21/51) have been organising home delivery In Serbia, patients can choose to collect their medicines at dedicated pharmacies or, in some cases, delivery by community organisations In Ukraine, most respondents report home delivery is possible Respondents noted that PrEP, where available, is delivered at hospital pharmacies (7/22), at community/local pharmacies (8/22), public entity (1/22) and 1/22 as part of a clinical study (Slovenia) Several respondents reported a lack of availability of PrEP (Romania, Greece, Albania, Kazakhstan and Abakan (Russia)) Conclusions: Community organisations can be seen to be playing a crucial part in HIV treatment through assisting with delivery of medicines The possibility to receive treatment via local pharmacies and/or delivery rather than attending hospitals is an intervention that could be considered to improve the quality of life of PLHIV by reducing the amount of times they would need to visit a hospital/hospital pharmacy and increase safety in times of sanitary crisis