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TWO of NSW’s leading community organisations that cater to people living with HIV have welcomed the NSW Government’s implementation of the聽removal of the co-payment of HIV medication.

Announced as a pre-election commitment by the Mike Baird government before the NSW state election earlier this year, the waiver comes into effect from today (October 1).

[showads聽ad=MREC]Both ACON and the Bobby Goldsmith Foundation (BGF) have said the removal of the co-payment means people living with HIV (PLHIV) have easier access to prescribed anti-retroviral medications and other highly specialised (S100) drugs.

Cost has consistently been identified as a possible barrier for some in the LGBTI聽community who bear a financial burden when accessing s100 drugs to treat chronic conditions such as cancer and HIV.

ACON has long advocated for treatment to be made as accessible as possible 鈥� which also means as affordable as possible.

鈥淲e know that in addition to the co-payment for anti-retroviral drugs for HIV, often people living longer with HIV will also require other prescriptions and thus, the co-payments can add up to a significant cost,” acting ACON chief executive Karen Price said in a statement.

“This decision will remove what can be a significant financial burden on many people living with HIV.聽There鈥檚 no cure for HIV so treatment costs are for life and can add up to many hundreds of dollars annually.

鈥淔or those people with HIV living on a disability support pension or other concessional card holders this will be especially welcome news.”

BGF, a charity that聽supports PLHIV and their families, has supported treatment adherence by funding the co-payment of anti-retro viral medications for those on low incomes. The immediate impact of the state government’s waiver for BGF clients is that all of their other HIV-related illness medication co-payments will also聽be fully funded.

According to the organisation, each year over 700 people living with HIV聽from an annual client base of 1250 have accessed this support, making it the largest consumer group of any HIV-based NGO in NSW.

BGF chief executive聽David Riddell said 鈥渁s so many of our clients live by themselves and are ageing with HIV, this will continue BGF鈥檚 long tradition of providing support that keeps PLHIV well, out of poverty and also out of hospital鈥�.

鈥淭he more PLHIV who access a broad range of HIV 鈥撀燼nd other medical and financial supports 鈥撀爐he better their immediate and long term physical and mental health outcomes will be,” Riddell said.

鈥淎nother positive outcome of the co-payment change is that BGF will increase financial assistance for HIV medications for those people deemed to be ineligible for Medicare assistance.

“These are people who are often diagnosed late, and at greater risk of poor adherence and health outcomes.鈥�

BGF also stated there聽will be other changes to how they聽assist PLHIV who experience health challenges and financial distress.

Meanwhile, ACON praised the NSW Government for delivering on a pre-election promise.

鈥淭he NSW Government 鈥� and particularly the NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner 鈥� has shown outstanding leadership when it comes to HIV,” Price said.

“The goals and targets in the NSW Strategy are leading the way nationally, and the decision to remove the co-payment for HIV medication is another example of how this government has demonstrated it will do what it takes to drive down HIV transmissions in the state.鈥�

ACON鈥檚 recent campaign focussed on the latest evidence that showed聽starting HIV treatment early can 聽improve the health of PLHIV, and聽that treatment can also greatly reduce HIV transmission risk.

For more about ACON鈥檚 Undetectable campaign, 听辞谤 .

For information on how BGF can help make a difference, contact its聽dedicated .

For details聽about how the removal of the co-payment will work in practice,