Question
How can I get treatment if I can’t go back to my old clinic?
28 March 2023. Related: Access to treatment, Adherence, All topics.
Tested HIV positive in 2011 and started treatment. The following year I moved to a different province. When I went to the clinic for treatment they wanted a referral letter from the previous clinic. I couldn’t go that far. I defaulted till now. Yesterday I went to the clinic pretending I don’t know my status hoping they’ll test me and give me meds right away but no they checked with my ID number and they told me to go back to the clinic where I started treatment. I can’t go back now. I’ve relocated. I want to start over treatment. What must I do?
Answer
Hi, how are you doing?
Have you explained your situation to this new clinic? What are they asking for? Would you be able to contact your old clinic over phone/email and ask for a referral from them?
TAC is a company based in SA that may be able to offer more suitable advice for accessing treatment. As i-base is UK based there is less information we can offer.
Josh.
Hi Sihle, I am sorry to hear about the difficulties you are having accessing treatment. Are you based in SA? i-base is in the UK and it is difficult to provide information on access in other countries.
In SA, TAC is a charity similar to i-base that will more suitable to contact.
You can reach TAC here: https://www.tac.org.za/
I was getting my ARV madication in Freestate and I call them to give me a referral later they refuse and tell me to come back but I can’t go there. I am not taking my Metication till now. I don’t know what to do.i explained to the clinic around me the ask me to call them infront of them still they reduce and one of the sister ask to talk to them and they reduce to speak with the sister.Then the sister told me that I must ask for the sister of that clinic she also refuse me to speak to sister. Please help me I don’t know what to do now.