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Accessing HIV care and treatment

People living with HIV need specialised care from appropriately-qualified health professionals. Finding the right treating doctor and accessing medical care are topics covered in this section of the website, along with Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme[Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme] The federal government program which subsidises medication costs in Australia. Anti-HIV drugs are part of a special part of the PBS called Section 100 (S100) which is used for expensive, highly specialised drugs. (PBS).

HIV General Practice Workforce Study

Story • Dr Christy Newman • 11 February 2010

The National Centre in HIV Social Research at The University of New South Wales is leading a studyA clinicalPertaining to or founded on observation and treatment of participants, as distinguished from theoretical or basic science. trialA clinical trial is a research study to answer specific questions about vaccines or new therapies or new ways of using known treatments. Clinical trials are used to determine whether new drugs or treatments are both safe and effective. Carefully conducted clinical trials are the fastest and safest way to find treatments that work in people. Trials are in four phases: Phase I tests a new drug or treatment in a small group; Phase II expands the study to a larger group of people; Phase III expands the study to an even larger group of people; and Phase IV takes place after the drug or treatment has been licensed and marketed. is a research study to answer specific questions about vaccines or new therapies or new ways of using known treatments. Clinical trials are used to determine whether new drugs or treatments are both safe and effective. Carefully conducted clinical trials are the fastest and safest way to find treatments that work in people. Trials are in four phases: Phase IA clinical trial designed to establish whether an experimental drug is safe for humans to take. Phase I studies determine the metabolism and pharmacologic actions of drugs in humans, the side effects associated with increasing doses, and look for early evidence of effectiveness; these studies may include either people with HIV, HIV-negative volunteers, or both tests a new drug or treatment in a small group; Phase IIA smaller clinical trial designed to establish whether a drug is effective. Phase II studies are conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the drug for a particular indication or indications in patients with the disease or condition under study and to determine the common short-term side effects and risks. If there is evidence that the drug is effective, a Phase III study is undertaken, with a larger number of participaants, to confirm this. expands the study to a larger group of people; Phase IIIA large clinical trial designed to establish whether a drug is effective and safe enough for widespread use. Phase III studies include expanded controlled and uncontrolled trials after preliminary evidence suggesting effectiveness of the drug has been obtained, and are intended to gather additional information to evaluate the overall benefit-risk relationship of the drug and provide and adequate basis for physician labeling. expands the study to an even larger group of people; and Phase IVPost-marketing studies to delineate additional information including the drug's risks, benefits, and optimal use. takes place after the drug or treatment has been licensed and marketed. investigating the capacity of the general practitioner workforce to meet ongoing HIV primary care needs in Australia. read more »

What's your problem?

Positive Living article • Dr Louise Owen • 4 March 2010

Doctor Louise answers readers' questions. In this issue she discusses the value of seeing an HIV GP. read more »

Are we running out of GPs?

Positive Living article • Adrian Ogier • 4 March 2010

Why would anyone choose to specialise in HIV medicine? And what possible incentives are there to make you stay? These are questions you may well have contemplated while sitting in your own doctor’s waiting room. read more »

Tales from The Network

Positive Living article • Adrian Ogier • 26 February 2010

There is a network of workers located at AIDS Councils and PLHIVPerson (or people) Living with HIV. This term is now preferred over the older PLWHAPerson (or People) Living with HIV/AIDS.. organisations around Australasia who understand the variety of treatment issues faced by positive people. We call them the Treataware Outreach Network.

ADRIAN OGIER thought it was time we shared some of their stories. read more »

World AIDS Day: 
‘We are living our rights’

Media release • Paul Kidd • 1 December 2009

State and federal governments should make a clear commitment to reforming laws that discriminate against HIV-positive people, state and national organisations representing people living with HIV have said. read more »

New treatment for HIV-associated facial wasting

Media release • Paul Kidd • 1 September 2009

Today’s PBS[Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme[Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme] The federal government program which subsidises medication costs in Australia. Anti-HIV drugs are part of a special part of the PBS called Section 100 (S100) which is used for expensive, highly specialised drugs.] The federal government program which subsidises medication costs in Australia. Anti-HIV drugs are part of a special part of the PBS called Section 100 (S100) which is used for expensive, highly specialised drugs. listing of a treatment for HIV-associated facial wasting will provide substantial improvements in quality of life for people living with HIV, the National Association of People Living with HIV/AIDS (NAPWA) has said. read more »

What's your problem?

Positive Living article • Dr Louise Owen • 20 August 2009

Doctor Louise Owen answers readers questions. This month: the doctor -patient relationship, and what STI is that? read more »

The people we won't treat

Positive Living article • David Menadue • 20 August 2009

Trotting into a hospital pharmacy for regular supplies of antiretroviralsA medication or other substance which is active against retroviruses such as HIV. is something many of us take for granted. David Menadue investigates why there are positive people among us who do not have this luxury. read more »

SCULPTRA Update: PBS-subsidised lipo treatment a step closer

Positive Living article • Adrian Ogier • 5 June 2009

People with severe facial lipoatrophy caused by HIV treatments are closer to being able to access subsidised treatment with poly-lactic acid under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme[Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme] The federal government program which subsidises medication costs in Australia. Anti-HIV drugs are part of a special part of the PBS called Section 100 (S100) which is used for expensive, highly specialised drugs. (PBS). read more »

More ineligible for Medicare

Positive Living article • Adrian Ogier • 5 June 2009

There are a growing number of positive people legally living in Australia who do not have access to Medicare, including subsidised antiretroviralsA medication or other substance which is active against retroviruses such as HIV. through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme[Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme] The federal government program which subsidises medication costs in Australia. Anti-HIV drugs are part of a special part of the PBS called Section 100 (S100) which is used for expensive, highly specialised drugs. (PBS). read more »

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HIV Clinical Trials update