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Open Access 22-03-2024 | Human Immunodeficiency Virus | Review

Getting HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) into Private Pharmacies: Global Delivery Models and Research Directions

Authors: Stephanie D. Roche, Daniel Were, Natalie D. Crawford, Angela Tembo, Jillian Pintye, Elizabeth Bukusi, Kenneth Ngure, Katrina F. Ortblad

Published in: Current HIV/AIDS Reports

Abstract

Purpose of Review

To provide an overview of the current state of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) delivery via private sector pharmacies globally, to discuss the context-specific factors that have influenced the design and implementation of different pharmacy-based PrEP delivery models in three example settings, and to identify future research directions.

Recent Findings

Multiple high- and low-income countries are implementing or pilot testing PrEP delivery via private pharmacies using a variety of delivery models, tailored to the context. Current evidence indicates that pharmacy-based PrEP services are in demand and generally acceptable to clients and pharmacy providers. Additionally, the evidence suggests that with proper training and oversight, pharmacy providers are capable of safely initiating and managing clients on PrEP. The delivery of PrEP services at private pharmacies also achieves similar levels of PrEP initiation and continuation as traditional health clinics, but additionally reach individuals underserved by such clinics (e.g., young men; minorities), making pharmacies well-positioned to increase overall PrEP coverage. Implementation of pharmacy-based PrEP services will look different in each context and depend not only on the state of the private pharmacy sector, but also on the extent to which key needs related to governance, financing, and regulation are addressed.

Summary

Private pharmacies are a promising delivery channel for PrEP in diverse settings. Countries with robust private pharmacy sectors and populations at HIV risk should focus on aligning key areas related to governance, financing, and regulation that have proven critical to pharmacy-based PrEP delivery while pursuing an ambitious research agenda to generate information for decision-making. Additionally, the nascency of pharmacy-based PrEP delivery in both high- and low-and-middle-income settings presents a prime opportunity for shared learning and innovation.

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Roche SD, Ekwunife OI, Mendonca R, et al. Measuring the performance of computer vision artificial intelligence to interpret images of HIV self-testing results. Front Public Health. 2024;12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1334881.

Title: Getting HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) into Private Pharmacies: Global Delivery Models and Research Directions
Authors: Stephanie D. Roche
Daniel Were
Natalie D. Crawford
Angela Tembo
Jillian Pintye
Elizabeth Bukusi
Kenneth Ngure
Katrina F. Ortblad
Publication date: 22-03-2024
Publisher: Springer US
Keyword: Human Immunodeficiency Virus
Published in: Current HIV/AIDS Reports
Print ISSN: 1548-3568
Electronic ISSN: 1548-3576
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11904-024-00696-y

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Highlights from the ACC 2024 Congress

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Watch Dr. Anne Marie Valente present the last year's highlights in pediatric and congenital heart disease in the official ACC.24 Year in Review session.

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Illustration of figure on mountain summit/© Orapun / Stock.adobe.com, STEP AAG HeroTeaserCollection image/© Tarek / Generated with AI / Stock.adobe.com, ACC 2024 Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease: Year in Review/© 2024 American College of Cardiology, ACC 2024 Pulmonary Vascular Disease: Year in Review/© 2024 American College of Cardiology, ACC 2024 Valvular Heart Disease: Year in Review/© 2024 American College of Cardiology, ACC 2024 HF and Cardiomyopathies: Year in Review/© 2024 American College of Cardiology, Woman out walking/© Seventyfour / stock.adobe.com (symbolic image with model), Woman checking smartwatch /© saltdium / stock.adobe.com (symbolic image with model), Cardiac catheterization/© Damian / stock.adobe.com