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поиск по ресурсному центру The beginning of 2018 brings forth positive changes in the treatment of HIV-positive patients: additional budget funding will allow to increase the CD4 immune cells level at which the patients are eligible to start a governmentally-funded therapy, which is now 500 cells/mcl. Until this time, the state paid for treatment only to patients who had CD4 count of 350 cells or lower, and many patients had to wait for therapy for as long as few years.
Until now, Latvia and Lithuania were the only ones among the EU countries where the treatment of HIV-infected patients did not begin immediately after the patient was diagnosed with HIV. Following serious criticism from UNAIDS, Lithuania in 2018 plans to completely cancel the restrictions on HIV treatment initiation.
In its turn, in 2017 Ministry of Health of Latvia with the active participation of NGOs developed an Action Plan to prevent the spread of HIV infection, sexually transmitted diseases, HCV and HBV for 2018-2020, endorsed by the government on October 31; the Plan provides, among other things, for the initiation of HIV therapy at earlier stages.
“We call on all HIV patients who were unable to get treatment so far due to the CD4 level limitations to take advantage of the opportunity provided by the government and to begin treatment. Patients should contact the Latvian Infectious Disease Center: take tests, have their current health status assessed and start taking medication, if necessary”, says Inga Ažiņa, doctor, a certified infectious diseases specialist and dermatovenereologist, Head of the outpatient infectious disease department of the Latvian Center for Infectious Diseases of the Riga Eastern Clinical University Hospital.
“We strongly hope that the changes introduced in 2018 in the treatment of HIV-infected patients will reverse the situation towards a positive trend and reduce the dynamics of new HIV infections. Nowadays, HIV infection can be controlled by taking medicines. A patient who takes medicines not only improves their health and quality of life, but also becomes safe for others. And, of course, the therapy helps people live longer”, – says the Director of the AGIHAS Society for the Support of HIV Patients Andris Veiķenieks.
According to the Latvian Center for Disease Prevention and Control, 5,449 HIV patients were registered in Latvia as of October 1, 2017. Based on the Ministry of Health of Latvia statistics, about 38% of HIV-infected persons are currently receiving treatment in the country. At the same time, there is a significant increase in the number of new cases of HIV in Latvia. In 2016, Latvia had the highest rate among the EU countries in diagnosing new HIV infections per 100 000 inhabitants (18.5 cases, while 5.9 is the average indicator in the EU and the European Economic Area). In the first 11 months of 2017 in Latvia 260 new HIV infections were detected.
HIV patients receiving treatment do not spread infection further, and those who are aware of their status infect their partners much less often than those who do not know about it. The only way to know your HIV status is to get tested. 17 HIV prevention stations providing free and anonymous tests operate in Latvia.
