Health centers will be able to screen and diagnose chlamydia and gonorrhea, two of the most prevalent sexually transmitted infections in Europe, the Ministry of Health announced this Monday, in a note sent to Lusa.
“The introduction of two new Complementary Diagnostic and Therapeutic Means in primary care, operationalized in recent days by the Central Administration of the Health System, appears associated with the extension of access to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis to primary health care, a preventive strategy for infection by HIV, which implies the need to also track other sexually transmitted infections”, says the statement.
Analyzes for chlamydia (Chlamydia trachomatis) and gonorrhea (Neisseria gonorrhoeae) can be carried out at the respective Local Health Unit or in the agreed sector.
With the availability of these diagnostic means in primary care, the conditions are created to expand access to HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), which provides for the reimbursement of medicines for this purpose, and which, pointed out by the Ministry of Health, is considered a A fundamental public health measure in reducing HIV transmission, with a view to eliminating this epidemic.
This medication was, until now, available exclusively in specific consultations in hospitals, but, with this measure now operational, it can now also be prescribed in primary care and in medical consultations accessible in community-based organizations, and can be dispensed in community pharmacies.
According to the ordinance approved in December, a 69% contribution, and the price cannot exceed 40 euros per month, with a cost of up to 12 euros for users.
According to data provided by the Ministry of Health, hThere are currently 4,500 people in the country taking PrEP, implemented in 2018with the various measures estimated to have contributed to a reduction of around 38% in new HIV cases in the last five years.
