title: The ethical case for providing cost-free access to lifesaving HIV medications in Canada: Implications of a qualitative study.
abstract: Antiretroviral therapy for HIV can be expensive if paid for out of pocket. In Canada, there are a variety of federal, provincial, and private prescription drug plans that lower the cost of these lifesaving medications for people living with HIV, and in some cases, these plans result in cost-free access. However, many people living with HIV must contend with high deductibles for their antiretroviral therapies, and many experience difficulty managing the administrative requirements of their drug plans. This article comments on some of the results of a qualitative study into ethical issues in HIV care. Access to antiretrovirals was a theme that emerged in this study. We argue on ethical grounds that provincial drug plans should guarantee cost-free access to antiretroviral therapies for people living with HIV with minimal administrative requirements.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Health Sciences Centre, Memorial University, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. christopher.kaposy@med.mun.ca.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kaposy
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Health Sciences Centre, Memorial University, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.|St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Nicole R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Greenspan
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Health Sciences Centre, Memorial University, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.|Novel Tech Ethics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
authors.forename: Zack
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Marshall
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Health Sciences Centre, Memorial University, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Allison
authors.affiliation: Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, Population and Public Health, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
authors.forename: Shelley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marshall
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Nursing, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kitson
mesh_terms: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002170:Canada; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003669:Deductibles and Coinsurance; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D009313:National Health Programs; D036301:Qualitative Research
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents