Info for professionals regarding PrEP clinic

Dear community health worker, family doctor and other health care providers,

Welcome to our PrEP clinic,

In the summer of 2022 we started PrEP clinic. The reason was seeing the waiting list at the GGD for PrEP and hearing back from our clients that they cannot always get help from their GP.

On this page we tell you more about what we offer. We think it's important to share knowledge, inspire each other and work together. Therefore, we also organize webinars. Our last webinars were organized during European Testing Week May 15-22 with the topic PrEP across borders. If you would like to know more about this, please contact us. 

November 2022
HIV Monitoring Foundation notes that at least 48 people who received an HIV diagnosis during the period 2019 - 2021 had intended to use PrEP. The actual number is likely significantly higher, as information about their intention regarding PrEP is available from less than half of those who received an HIV diagnosis. Four of the 48 people acquired HIV while they were on the waiting list at the GGDs. 

PrEP has been available since 2016 on doctor's prescription and will also be offered through GGDs for a limited group of people starting August 2019. As many as 2,500 people are on the waiting list for PrEP. There even seems to be a waiting list for the waiting list.

Soapoli-online contributes to accessible PrEP care

Soapoli-online was founded 13 years ago by two public health nurses. Their mission was and still is to help anyone who falls between the cracks.

13 years ago, they were one of the first online providers and the first provider with a complete testing and support package. In recent years that has changed a lot and more providers have emerged.
Soaaids Netherlands saw this happening and started testing the quality, leading to the development of the Advice chat. In this Advice Chat you get personalized advice on what to test by answering questions in a chatbot. Soapoli-online is included in this every year. 

'When we started, we focused on the target group that falls between the cracks: Someone does not want to test at the GP and so goes to the GGD. The GGD applies strict criteria on which they are refused and then has nowhere to reliably test. Now 13 years later we see this unfortunately happening again at PrEPzorg," says Klazien Visser.
The situation you see now is that someone wants to take PrEP. Goes first to the GGD where there is a waiting list. The GGD refers them to their family doctor. What we hear back is that the GP says they can't provide the care and refers someone back to the GGD.

From general practitioners we hear the cry of distress that they have too much on their plate. "Moreover, a large proportion of general practitioners choose not to provide PrEP care, because it does not fall under basic GP care," said a spokesperson for the National GP Association (LHV). "It goes beyond just writing a prescription, someone also needs to be properly counseled. It's really a job for the GGD. The workload among general practitioners is already very high and they cannot have additional tasks."  (RTL news)

Integrated PrEP care

 

What does collaboration with the GGD look like?

We now work with a number of GGDs and with them we have an agreement that clients can have their regular testing through the CSG scheme. The mandatory and additional tests are provided by PrEP clinic:

•  HIV
•  Kidney Function (if indicated)
•  Hepatitis C (if indicated)
•  

What does collaboration with the family doctor look like?

PrEP clinic is mentioned at: 
 

Soaaids Netherlands | Man to Man | PrEPNU | National Pharmacy

PrEP clinic is supported by: