7. 4 Comprehensive and accessible care

Access to the best care for people who inject drugs includes a diverse range of services. This includes individualising medical care and approaches to harm reduction.

This package of care should include as many health and social services as possible at a single clinic site. This improves both adherence and treatment outcomes.

People are often reluctant to come forward for treatment and care. Services need to be located somewhere that is acceptable, welcoming, easy to access and within the HIV clinic setting.

Comprehensive, multi-disciplinary services should include the following.

• Access to ART.
• Access to methadone and buprenorphine and other evidence-based treatment for drug dependence.
• Opportunistic infection prophylaxis and treatment, including for STIs.
• Accessible, non-judgemental healthcare team.
• Needle and syringe programmes.
• Overdose prevention (naloxone).
• Prevention, including vaccination, and treatment for viral hepatitis.
• Prevention, testing and treatment for TB.
• Mental health care.
• Reproductive health care.
• Adherence support and counselling.
• Strong links with community based programmes.
• Food programmes and public transport.
• Outreach.

Last updated: 1 January 2023.