Advocates say end of funding for HIV self-tests creates barrier to care

Advocates for people living with HIV/AIDS are decrying a decision by the federal government to stop funding a program that provides self-test HIV kits that clients can take home.

The take-home kits have been an effective option for people in marginalized communities, street-involved people or anyone who doesn't feel comfortable in a traditional health care setting and wants to test for HIV, said Richard MacDonagh of the London InterCommunity Health Centre. 

LIHC provides HIV testing at its location, but has also been handing out the kits, which were approved for use by Health Canada in 2020.

"One of the things we always consider is that not all of the people who are at risk or who may be positive are necessarily seeking out care," MacDonagh said. "The self-tests are important because it can reach those populations that may not be accessing sexual health clinics. This is something that can be more peer-led." 

The INSTI HIV self test kits use a finger prick to test for the virus and can provide results in minutes. They can be ordered online for about $35.

In August of 2022 Ottawa invested $17 million to support the testing and distribute the self-administered tests to various community organizations. 

The program was extended in 2023 but that extension ran out in March of this year. 

In a statement to CBC News, Health Canada said funding for the self-test kits was always going to be time-limited and that kits already distributed have a shelf life of 15 months. 

"We're certainly concerned that this resource is no longer available," said Meredith Fraser, education director at Regional HIV/AIDS Connection in London. "Self-test kits are a good way for people to know their HIV status and this program provided those kits in a very accessible way, so it's certainly a concern locally and nationally that they're no longer available through this program."

Fraser said the kits provided a good way to address the dip in HIV testing that happened during the COVID-19 pandemic, and removing funding will eliminate what's become a "critical resource" for testing and treatment. 

"It really continues to exacerbate health inequities and the folks who are systemically marginalized and oppressed," she said. 

She said the kits' ease of use in a private setting can lead to increased detection, especially in cases where someone doesn't know they're HIV-positive and can unknowingly spread it the virus that causes AIDS.