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.
Hello unknown and thanks for getting in touch.
I am not sure of the legal framework in South Africa as I am based in the UK where not being on ARVs is not something to report.
People sometimes have horrible side effects and that is one reason they are not on medication.
Others in South Africa specifically have contacted us because they are unable to reach the clinics to get medications.
Other times money, personal circumstances, religion and fear can prevent people from being on their medication.
In general, within this epidemic we learned that supporting people works better than reporting them.
No one wants to be sick. People just need to be supported until they are ready to start a life – long treatment.
Bottom line: if you are interested in the person you should be trying to find ways to help them and the first step is to understand why this is happening.
Hi please keep me as unknown I want to report a person his not taking his Arv’s in South Africa how to report?
Hi Raymond – I am sorry you are having these problems. I am sorry that I can’t help directly as I am in another country, but pls go back to the clinic and ask to speak to a doctor that is higher up. I don’t know these clinics but what did they say when you said you couldn’t travel back. Maybe ask to register as a new patient. Can anyone else help you talki to the clinic?
I m strugling with the same HIV crises.my file is in Middelburg mp and due to my illness I lost my job and have no transport from Brits.nw.the clinic turn me away two times this year because of the refural letter.i don’t want to die.what can I do?please help. thank you
Hi Palesa, please go to the new closest clinic and register as a new patient. I know SA can sometimes be complicated but please try this first.
Hi i was based in gauteng im now at mpumalanga i can not go back to my old clinic i need to no what to do
Hello Nomfundo and thank you for the question.
I am not sure what is the policy in your country.
I am based in the UK, so here, the new clinic would email your old clinic and they would give you 1 month supply.
I hope they are able to do this in your country too. You need to ask them.
Christina
Can i get my treatment to another clinic i am stuck at work but will come back to my clinic
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.