BCN Checkpoint warns that people on the waiting list to start PrEP are becoming infected with HIV and calls for urgent measures to guarantee immediate and universal access to this preventive tool.
In Barcelona and the rest of Catalonia, waiting lists to access pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) continue to be a serious public health problem. BCN Checkpoint has detected that several people have become infected with HIV while waiting to start preventive treatment, despite having requested it months earlier.
This situation highlights the need to increase resources and speed up access to PrEP, a highly effective tool that reduces the risk of HIV transmission and is already part of international recommendations on sexual health.
PrEP is included in the portfolio of services of the public healthcare system and, therefore, its non-dispensation or the lack of resources to guarantee access constitutes a violation of a right that should be universal and guaranteed for everyone.
Why is urgent action needed?
- Health impact: every new HIV infection that occurs in people who could have been on preventive treatment is a lost opportunity for public health.
- Rights and equity: PrEP is a scientifically proven tool, and ensuring access is a matter of justice and sexual health rights.
- Resource efficiency: prevention is far more sustainable than treatment: the lifetime cost of chronic HIV treatment is much higher than that of prevention.
BCN Checkpoint’s demands
To reverse this situation, the community center calls for:
- More immediate resources to expand appointments, staff, and access points for PrEP.
- Coordination with the healthcare network to refer people to centers with greater availability.
- Active follow-up by public health centers for people on the waiting list, ensuring regular testing and support until PrEP is initiated.
- Transparency in waiting times and data on PrEP access in order to better plan resources.
Conclusion
Each new HIV infection in a person waiting for PrEP is a system failure that could have been prevented.
For this reason, BCN Checkpoint reiterates the need for a firm commitment from institutions to
expand access, eliminate waiting lists, and ensure that no one is left behind in prevention.
