Latest news with #HealthEquityMatters
Herald Sun
7 days ago
- Health
- Herald Sun
Australian HIV self-testing kits now in vending machines in universities, nightclubs from Atomo Diagnostics
More Australians are getting access to free, lifesaving HIV self-testing kits through a national rollout of vending machines across the country in universities and nightclubs. In a groundbreaking move to help break down barriers to testing and address the issue of social stigma, Sydney-based Atomo Diagnostics is now supplying thousands of self-test kits to sexual health programs across the nation. The concept of the HIV test is similar to that of a Covid-19 rapid antigen test — but this test works with a finger prick test to get a blood sample. The national rollout program continues to expand, with more vending machines to be installed in Australian universities, in NSW, South Australia and Victoria. Vending machines have also been rolled out in Queensland, with a particular focus on those living in remote communities. In universities, the Federal Government-funded tests are free for all users, John Kelly, CEO of Atomo Diagnostics said. 'The reason for that is that the government has recognised that cost, particularly for young people, could be a barrier to use and they want to make sure that there's more testing and cost isn't a kind of barrier to uptake of testing,' he said. 'So it is subsidised and free to the user and funded through the government.' At the end of 2023, it was estimated that there were 30,010 people with HIV in Australia, according to Health Equity Matters. Mr Kelly said one of the benefits of the tests is that they are 'quick, pretty simple, easy to do and can be done at home, you can do it pretty much anywhere immediately'. He said the feedback from venues where the tests are available was positive, with the vending machines program proving popular with young people, particularly overseas-born migrants in Australia on student visas. '(Many) young people don't have a GP. It's a much more transactional service now with healthcare,' he said. 'And I think for a lot of people, they don't have that doctor to go see or that clinic that they can call. So I think having a discreet, easy to use test in the university that they can access for free has been a game changer.' In NSW, the Ministry of Health's 'My Test' vending machines, branded in distinctive purple, are placed in night-life venues, sexual health clinics, community centres, universities and even a public library. In Victoria and South Australia, the 'CONNECT' program, co-ordinated by Dr Nikki Sullivan, is preparing for its national rollout, expanding from successful trials in South Australia and Victoria to all states and territories. Vending machines will be installed at the University of Melbourne next month, when students return from their semester holidays. It comes after researchers at Melbourne's Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity made a huge step towards an HIV cure by devising a method to deliver an mRNA-based therapy direct to cells, killing the virus as it circulates in the body. Renowned HIV researcher Sharon Lewin, director of the Doherty Institute, said earlier this month that the breakthrough was made when the team was working on a therapy for Covid-19. Meanwhile, Atomo Diagnostics has also called for the Federal Government to run a trial program in Australia, similar to ones currently being held in Spain and US, for at-home testing to be used for pre-exposure prophylaxis or PrEP. PrEP involves HIV negative people taking antiretroviral medication to protect them and prevent HIV infection. Mr Kelly said the rates of HIV transmission had been falling but challenges remained as people on PrEP had to test negative every 12 weeks, meaning the health system was getting clogged up with thousands of appointments for routine testing. 'In Barcelona, they have adopted an alternative approach where twice a year you can do a self-test at home and show your negative status to stay on PrEP and you then come into the clinic two times a year instead of four times a year,' he said. Mr Kelly said the trial program showed major benefits. 'We think it's the way forward for PrEP testing, to make it more flexible, reduce the burden on clinics and get people the opportunity to do occasional tests at home so they don't have to take a half day off to go into a clinic and queue for three hours to get a test that they could easily do at home.' Read related topics: Wellness
ABC News
18-06-2025
- Health
- ABC News
Australian Red Cross Lifeblood loosens rules around LGBTQIA+ donating blood and plasma
Restrictions around sexually active gay and bisexual men donating blood and plasma are being loosened in a new world-leading move by Australian Red Cross Lifeblood. Under current rules, gay and bisexual men, and transgender women who have sex with men, cannot donate blood or plasma if they have had sex in the past three months. But from July 14, in the first set of rule changes, Lifeblood will remove most restrictions on donating plasma related to sexual activity. It has called this world-first the "plasma pathway", and says it will mean "most people, including gay and bisexual men, and anyone who takes PrEP, will be able to donate plasma without a wait period, providing they meet all other eligibility criteria". PrEP stands for pre-exposure prophylaxis and involves HIV-negative people taking antiretroviral medication to protect them and prevent infection. "Extensive research and modelling show that there will be no impact to the safety of the plasma supply with this change," Lifeblood said in a statement. Lifeblood chief medical officer Jo Pink said plasma was now the donation Australians needed the most, and the change would allow more than 600,000 extra people to give blood. "We're excited to be able to welcome more people from across the community into our donor centres from next month," Dr Pink told News Breakfast. "We now anticipate an extra 24,000 donors and 95,000 extra donations of plasma to be made each year." Dash Heath-Paynter, the CEO of Health Equity Matters, said the change "potentially unlocks thousands of donations of life-saving plasma". "Members of the LGBQTIA+ community members can now help those whose lives depend on plasma donations without a donation deferral period," Mr Heath-Paynter said. Alongside the changes to plasma donation rules, Lifeblood is working towards making changes to blood and platelet donation eligibility. Lifeblood said the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) had approved a submission to remove gender-based sexual activity rules. It will mean that all donors will be given the same questions about sexual activity, regardless of gender or sexuality, once the changes come into effect. Men will no longer be asked if they have had sex with another man before they donate blood. On top of that, people in a sexual relationship of six months or more with a single partner will be able to donate blood and most people with new or multiple partners will also be able to donate if they have not had anal sex in the past three months. Lifeblood has not given a date for when the changes will come into effect, but Dr Pink is hopeful of it being from early next year. "There are many steps that Lifeblood needs to take before we can implement the new gender-neutral assessments, including working with state and territory governments to change the donor questionnaire," Dr Pink said. These changes to blood- and plasma-donating rules will "make it easier for more people in the LGBTQIA+ community to donate" Dr Pink added.
The Guardian
18-06-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
Ban on gay and bisexual men donating blood and plasma in Australia to be scrapped
Rules banning sexually active gay and bisexual men from donating blood and plasma will be scrapped in a world-leading change to HIV-era regulations, with Lifeblood's chief medical officer heralding it 'a very exciting day'. Current rules prevent gay and bisexual men and transgender women who have had sex with men in the past three months from donating blood or plasma. But as of 14 July this year, most sexual activity wait times will be removed for plasma donations, in a rule change Lifeblood calls a 'world-leading plasma pathway'. It will mean most HIV negative people who take antiretroviral medication to prevent HIV infection (called pre-exposure prophylaxis) will be able to donate plasma without a wait period. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email The national blood, milk, and microbiota donation service anticipates an extra 24,000 donors and 95,000 extra donations of plasma each year. 'Extensive research and modelling show that there will be no impact to the safety of the plasma supply with this change,' Lifeblood said in a statement. The Health Equity Matters chief executive, Dash Heath-Paynter, said the change 'potentially unlocks thousands of donations of life-saving plasma, which is in high demand in Australian hospitals'. 'In terms of plasma donations, these changes mean Australia's regulations are world-leading.' The Therapeutic Goods Administration has also approved a submission to remove gender-based sexual activity rules for blood and platelets donation eligibility. 'Every time a male donates at the moment, we ask them whether they have had anal sex with another man,' Dr Jo Pink, Lifeblood's chief medical officer, told ABC News on Wednesday. This carries on 'from the HIV period, which was a very difficult period', she said. Sign up to Afternoon Update Our Australian afternoon update breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion 'Those rules were important to have in place to protect the safety of the blood supply. But, as you know, things have changed now. So it's a very exciting day for us.' There will be a move to 'gender-neutral rules', Pink said. All donors will be asked the same questions about their sexual activity, and most people in a sexual relationship of six months or more with one partner will be eligible to donate blood. Most people with new or multiple partners will also be able to donate if they have not had anal sex in the past three months. This change means men will no longer be asked if they have had sex with another man. 'Blood safety is and always will be our top priority but we know the current donation rules have been very difficult for many people in the LGBTQIA+ community,' Pink said. 'While they were put in place to ensure a safe blood supply in the past, we know that they've contributed to the stigma faced by the community.' The blood donation questionnaire change still needs 'a little bit of work' and will be implemented sometime in 2026, Pink said. 'I know that our LBGTIQ + community is very keen to donate. So I'm really hoping that they'll blast that number out of the park and we will get heaps of donations.'
The Guardian
13-04-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
Labor announces $10m to provide ‘inclusive, culturally safe' healthcare for LGBTQ+ Australians
Labor would provide health workers with training to care for LGBTIQA+ Australians in a $10m package to upskill doctors and nurses alongside a new accreditation program, the health minister, Mark Butler, has said. The election promise, to be announced on Monday, would see Labor contract a training provider to design programs to train healthcare workers to help give 'inclusive, culturally safe primary care' for gay, lesbian and gender-diverse Australians. 'A re-elected Albanese Labor Government will continue to work in partnership with the LGBTIQA+ community to improve inclusive care nationwide,' Butler said. Sign up for the Afternoon Update: Election 2025 email newsletter The minister's office said that after the election Labor wouldopen a competitive grants process to choose a training provider. It is understood the exact details of the course, and what specific issues or factors it would address, would be contingent on the program designed by the successful provider. The government pointed to related health announcements – including grants for health services, greater data collection, health and medical research, efforts to address HIV transmission, mental health supports and expanding IVF access – in making the announcement. Labor said it would also introduce a voluntary accreditation program 'so that healthcare providers can be recognised for meeting best practice for LGBTIQA+ care, helping patients identify safe and trusted services'. 'I am proud of the strides we've taken in our first term of government, from securing PrEP during supply shortages, to investing in medical research and delivering the first ever LGBTIQA+ Health Action Plan,' Butler said. The assistant health minister, Ged Kearney, said the funding would aim to 'break down the barriers that prevent too many LGBTIQA+ Australians from getting the care they need'. The Health Equity Matters chief executive, Dash Heath-Paynter, said a focus on providing appropriate care for gender- and sexuality-diverse Australians was 'vital'. 'With higher-than-normal rates of mental and physical health challenges, this funding directly addresses critical barriers to care,' Heath-Paynter said. Sign up to Afternoon Update: Election 2025 Our Australian afternoon update breaks down the key election campaign stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion He said training and accreditation would help create settings where 'people can seek treatment without fear of discrimination or stigma'. LGBTIQ+ Health Australia's chair, Carolyn Gillespie, said a lack of inclusivity could be a barrier to seeking care. 'Building the capacity of primary care to ensure LGBTIQA+ people have equitable access is greatly needed,' she said. 'It is critical that this commitment supports LGBTIQA+ community-controlled health and wellbeing organisations to play a central role so that ongoing meaningful relations with Primary Health Networks can be enhanced and sustained.'
