Health Departments and PrEP:A Missed Opportunity for Public Health

Abstract

The paper identifies common barriers and challenges to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) uptake and offers considerations for state and local public health departments to address barriers and retool infrastructure to increase access to PrEP to new users. Authors identify synergistic opportunities with federal agencies and funders to advance PrEP-related HIV prevention efforts, that prioritize strategies and investments to provide PrEP to people who could benefit from the intervention but are unaware of PrEP or struggle to access it. Barriers discussed and examined include financing strategies to reduce financial burden of PrEP medication, expanding PrEP access and outreach beyond clinical settings, and increasing the network and reach of the provider community to serve people we oppress through policy choices and discourses of racial and socioeconomic inferiority.

INTRODUCTIONDisrupting the Status Quo:Building Equitable Access to HIV PrEP in the US through Innovative Financing

“…Comer and Fernández discuss the key role of state and local health departments in a national PrEP plan. 18 They make the case for strong partnerships and resource sharing with key populations and community-led organizations to promote true equitable access.…”