World Aids Day 2022 #Equalize
World Aids Day is commemorated on the 1st of December each year, it is an opportunity for every community to unite in the fight against HIV/Aids, show support for people living with HIV and remember those who lost their lives due to the virus.
This year WAD is commemorated under the theme “Equalize”, a call for global leaders and citizens to recognise and address the inequalities that are holding back progress in the alleviation of AIDS; and to equalize access to essential treatment services.
HIV/Aids is a Prescribed Minimum Benefit (PMB) condition enshrined in the Medical Schemes Act (131 of 1998) regulations, this means all medical schemes are required by law to pay for the diagnosis, treatment, and care of the condition in full. Download the CMScript on HIV/Aids here
PMB benefits for HIV/Aids include:
- Voluntary counselling and testing
- Provision of co‐trimoxazole as preventative therapy
- Screening and preventative treatment for TB
- Pain management in palliative care
- Treatment of opportunistic infections
- Prevention of mother‐to‐child transmission of HIV
- Post‐exposure preventative care following occupational exposure, such as a nurse receiving a needle prick, or sexual assault
- Medication, including the provision of anti‐retroviral therapy
- Ongoing medical management, including the monitoring of medicine effectiveness and safety, to the extent provided for in the national guidelines applicable in the public sector
Prescribed minimum benefits (PMBs) are treatments that your medical scheme must cover, regardless of your membership option. In terms of the Medical Schemes Act, these are the costs related to the diagnosis, treatment and care of any emergency medical condition, which HIV/Aids is included on the chronic conditions list.
Links
CMS: https://www.medicalschemes.co.za/publications/
WHO: https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-aids-day/2022
SA Gov https://www.gov.za/WorldAIDSDay2022
UNAIDS: https://www.unaids.org/en/2022-world-aids-day
