Pharmacists as the Go-To Source for HIV Prevention Guidance

In an interview with Pharmacy Times at an HIV Stakeholder Summit, Christina Madison, PharmD, FCCP, AAHIVP, founder of The Public Health Pharmacist and a residency-trained clinical pharmacist, discussed where pharmacists have the greatest opportunity to improve care for people living with HIV and those at risk.

Madison said pharmacists play their most important role as an accessible source of information and guidance, particularly around HIV prevention. She noted that 2 oral (emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate [Truvada; Gilead Sciences] and emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide [Descovy; Gilead Sciences]) and 2 injectable (lenacapavir [Yeztugo; Gilead Sciences] and cabotegravir [Apretude; GSK]) prevention options are now available, meaning there is an option for everyone, and that anyone who is sexually active is eligible for HIV prevention.

She encouraged pharmacists to raise HIV prevention when a patient comes in for contraception and to discuss HIV testing and prevention when a patient is being treated for a sexually transmitted infection. Madison framed these conversations within a sex-positive approach, emphasizing that giving people options to protect themselves supports the healthy, satisfying sex lives they want.