Local doctor says HIV treatment not widely accepted here; could prevent its spread
Posted April 25, 2010 7:47 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – He’s advocating for better treatment of HIV on the international stage. One local doctor says it will help people live longer in a dramatic way.
Vancouver professor Dr. Julio Montaner is a member of the International AIDS Society and he says the treatment for HIV, the so-called ‘Cocktail HEART’ is highly effective.
However, he adds it’s frustrating because the treatment is not widely accepted here so the chances of preventing transmission of the virus and helping those who have it — is low. “A large proportion of the people that need to access treatment for HIV are hampered by a variety of other issues. Whether it’s homelessness, addiction or mental health. The typical approach is ‘Well if you don’t come forward for treatment, we’re saving money.’ The reality is we’re not.”
He says if we’re going to stop the spread of the disease locally and around the world we need to make the treatment accessible to everyone.
