Not just Prep: all in the ranks of the drug basket for the proud community

The basket committee released this morning which drugs and treatments will enter the basket in the coming year, and besides the headline-winning prep treatment, the basket made up has several more lines for the proud community. So what's outside and what's inside? Dr. Roy Zucker with all the details that is important to know

Not just Prep: all in the ranks of the drug basket for the proud community

In the video - using Prep for the 2019 Pride Month

Each year, the Health Basket Committee convenes to decide on new technologies and drugs with a limited budget. The truth is that I would not really want to be part of this committee that decides the very law of the soul in these so complex decisions. It should be remembered that while one drug was approved, 10 other drugs apparently did not go into the basket, leaving many sick people waiting for the menstruation.

But this time to change the basket brought with him amazing news for the proud community thanks to the stubborn war of the AIDS War Committee, the LGBT Medicine Society, the Israeli AIDS Society and the Immunization Committee chaired by the distinguished Professor Shmuel Rashpon for many years.

What has the new health basket brought with it to the proud community?

1. PrEP - Probably one of the drugs that has caused more debates about its necessity or the social processes it leads as a result of its use. Perp entered gay communities like New York as early as 2012, showing a ten percent reduction in HIV infection among men who have sex with men, but at the same time has led to the acceleration of the condom download process and probably the rise in other sexually transmitted diseases.

However, some may say that treatment has accelerated the condom removal process that has taken place even before, mainly due to making HIV a chronic and relatively simple disease to treat. In any case, it is impossible to argue with the facts - the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has only recently announced that daily use of PREP lowers the chance of infection with HIV by 99% (!) And this is a real message.

What remains now is to give all the mantle needed by the HMOs to best review and treat STDs as quickly as possible, in addition to training more and more physicians who can also access the people who live in the periphery and need it. The price of a prep after entering the basket has not yet been announced but in the coming days we will all know.

The PrEP goes into the drug basket - all the details

"The basket has brought with it incredible ranks for the proud community." Credit: ShutterStock

PREP bullet (Photo: ShutterStock, ShutterStock)

2. Dobato - In the past year we have been reinforced in studies that indicate that only 2 drugs (that come in one pill) can be treated in people living with HIV, contrary to what has been accepted so far (at least 3 drugs). Israel is now joining the Western countries that have started treating people living with HIV and are only eligible for it on 2 drugs and the introduction of Dubato into the health basket is an important and significant step in simplifying HIV treatment and giving doctors another good and worthwhile treatment option.

3. Vaccine meningitis vaccine - The basket committee has decided to add BEXSERO / TRUMENBA to people living with HIV. This is a vaccine recommended for this population and has recently risen around NIS 500 after partial subsidy of the funds. Patients had to take this payment out of their own pocket. Reminds that this vaccine actually covers the most common strain of meningitis in the country (type B) and is a vaccine which is a new technology that has entered the consciousness in the last two years.

4. Measles - One of the problems to date was that measles vaccine after childhood could only be obtained in traveling clinics. This is an absurdity because it is a disease that only this year has infected more than 4000 people in the State of Israel. The Basket Committee has budgeted NIS 4.1 million to enable the vaccine to be given to at-risk groups (including those living with HIV but in fact all those born in 1957 onwards and not vaccinated) mention that vaccine for measles is a vaccine for everyone! But more importantly, you should be vaccinated if you suffer from chronic illnesses, immunosuppression and even if you stay in confined spaces like long flights (flight attendants, etc.) or attend multiple parties.

What has the new health basket brought with it to the proud community? Photo: elements.envato

Cure. Illustration (photo: elements.envato, screenshot)

What did not go into our grief?

GARDASIL 9 only for learners in eighth grade - the papilloma vaccine which has become a highly sought after vaccine for men who have sex with men in the past year. Today, the public can receive the old generation of vaccine (Gradzil 4), designed for 4 strains of papilloma, up to the age of 26 free of charge. In the outgrowth world it is vaccinated up to the age of 45 (not including), as well as the use of the 'Gardasil 9' vaccine, designed for more strains, including the most common and common virus strains. In the new basket outline, girls in eighth grade will receive the extended vaccine (9), but for a more mature audience, there is no change in vaccine outline. It is also important to say that the addition of the 5 additional strains in the vaccine is probably more relevant to women and therefore GARDASIL 4 should be a reasonable and good treatment.

So, compared to previous years, today is a day in the line for the proud community and people living with HIV. Hope we can see the significant decline in the number of HIV diagnoses in the coming years as has happened elsewhere, but it is important to keep in mind that the mantle needed to properly use the paraphernalia and proper review of those seeking treatment must be maintained. In addition, new treatments for HIV and high-paid vaccines have also come in and this is a good line for those living with HIV.

Sincerely, Shabbat Shalom and good news,
Meir Garden Clinic
Dr. Roy Zucker
Dr. Gal Wagner Colesco