Sunday, April 7, 2013

Email 315: Missing Medicines and Financial Issues


Hi Pozziepinoy. 

I just want to know if merong  govt institution that is providing free medicine for hiv positive.  I have a friend kasi na minsan d na nakakainom ng gamot due to financial issue.

XXX

TRANSLATION

 I just want to know if there is a government institution that is providing free medicine for HIV positive. I have a friend who sometimes miss his medicines due to financial issues.

 XXX


POZZIEPINOY’S RESPONSE


Hi XXX.

Thank you for your email. Thank you for finding the blog.

When it comes to medicines, let me share to you these facts:

HIV Medicines or Antiretroviral (ARV) Therapy:

1. ALL ARV's are FREE in all the government and private hubs in the Philippines. 
2. These HIV medicines are still subsidized by the Global Fund. Please check out the link below:


3. Avail of these ARV's by enrolling in an HIV/AIDS treatment hub nearest. The requirements are the following:
    
     a. Confirmatory HIV Test Result 
     b. Baseline Laboratory test
     c. CD4 test result

HIV-Related Infections Medicines

1. Preventive medicines or prophylaxis for opportunistic infections are usually FREE in all government hubs depending on their availability.

2. Additional laboratory tests and medicines for specific HIV-realted infections are not free in all hubs.

3. Some hubs provide FREE vaccinations.

Now in the case of your friend, you didn't mention the medicines that he/she is taking. But if his reason for missing his medicines is financial concerns, most probably he has issues with medicines for the HIV-realated infection medicines not the ARV's, because these medicines are not FREE and sometimes are extremely expensive. 

The best way to deal with this is for him to go to his HIV/AIDS Treatment hub and tell his doctor that he has financial problems and he needs medical assistance. His doctor will then refer him to the hospital's:

     a. Social Worker
     b. Philippine Charity Sweepstake's Office (PCSO)
     c. If his or her hub is in RITM-ARG in Alabang, he can seek assistance from The Love Fund for small medical assistance.

Of course, he has to present documents showing that he has financial difficulties in managing his treatment. The other medical documents will be furnished by his doctor upon request.

I hope I was able to answer your concerns. Feel free to email me again if you have other questions.


Stay healthy,
Pozziepinoy





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NO PLHIV is alone with his or her struggle with HIV!"

-Pozziepinoy-



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