Question

Can I get Triumeq in Vietnam

24 June 2016. Related: Access to treatment, All topics, Travel.

I am a British man who is stable and on medication. My CD4 count is fine and I am undetectable. I currently take the drug Triumeq and I am considering moving to Vietnam for a year but want to know if there is any way I can get my medication there?

I get 6 months of meds in the UK, but I want to know if I can get Triumeq there, so I don’t have to fly back to England every six months.

Also if possible can you recommend any facilities and know of the cost?

Answer

Answer: Simon Collins

Hi

Thanks for your question and for letting us answer this online.

Firstly, I don’t know about access to Triumeq in Vietnam but becasue this is such a new medication I think it might not be available yet. Predicting when this will change is difficult, but a generic version of dolutegravir is being developed and this might become available within the next year or two.

Technically, people in the UK are only eligible for treatment if they are resisident. These restribtions are becoming more difficult, so the option of flying back every 6 months might work for a while but doesn;t sounds like a good permanent solution.

This might be a reason to look at alternative combinations of generic HIV meds that will be easy an inexpensive in Vietnam.

Most large cities should have an HIV clinic and this might include the option of private care. AIdsmap have a serachable directory of global HIV organisation – or google should help find a community organisation that might have more up to date knowledge.