HCM City pilots tele pre-exposure prophylaxis treatment of HIV (Photo: Kim Van)

Ho Chi Minh City has selected 11 of 33 facilities that are providing HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to pilot tele-PrEP treatment with 60 customers registering or changing to TelePrEP protocol.

According to the municipal Department of Health, in the first half of this year, the city detected more than 2,700 HIV infections, of which men accounted for 92%; 2 thirds of the cases are between 23-40 years old. Due to the impact of COVID-19, many HIV carriers using PrEP services have not been able to access medical facilities.

With the TelePrEP model, clients do not need to go to the clinic. Doctors and clients use information technology to perform examinations, consultations, and treatments.

Doctor Tran Le Viet Thanh, representative of GLink clinic which participates in the pilot TelePrEP program, said: "Previously, clients would come directly to the clinic to use the service. Now they can stay at home. I also get this PrEP service for clients who find it difficult to arrange their time to go to the clinic or those who live far away from it."

Ho Chi Minh City began piloting HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) treatment  in 2017. By the end of June 2022, 33 medical facilities including public and private clinics had deployed PrEP treatment activities. To date, the program has engaged tens of thousands of high-risk HIV-negative people.