Question
Where can I find out info about HIV if I move to a new country?
26 August 2021. Related: Access to treatment, All topics, Travel.
I have been HIV positive since early 2019. And have been on medication Efavirenz-Lamivudine-Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate) since then. I am a medical professional from the Philippines hoping to work abroad, maybe in the US or Canada, which ever is viable.
It would be such a great help if someone could assist me which office I should ask if my medication is available in a certain country. Would it be the embassy of the country? I truly am at a loss on where to go or who to ask.
If anyone can help me out, I would be very grateful.
Answer
Thanks for your email and for letting us post an answer online.
i-Base is focussed on treatment-related questions, rather than immigration or employment, but this will be different for every country.
For example, in the UK there are no restrictions related to HIV status, and HIV testing, monitoring and treatment is free for everyone. This includes people who are not officially residents.
Contacting a national HIV organisation for the country you are interested in is often a good first informal start. Embassies and Consulates should have information. So should most government websites.
The US is a particularly complex country for accessing healthcare. This is because of private insurance-based health care. However, many HIV positive people move to the US to study or work, so long as the organisation they are working for or studying with includes healthcare. Your options might be better because you are a health professional.
In other countries you might need to bring your meds with you and arrange to continue getting these from your home country,
HIVtravel.org is the best internet resource for HIV related entry criteria globally. It is easy to search for each country, but please check that the date of the current info in case COVID (or BREXIT etc) has changed things.
https://www.hivtravel.org
Good luck with your plans :)
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