Since PrEP is a game-changing preventive medication that can reduce the risk of HIV infection by more than 92 percent, if taken daily, as part of a combination HIV prevention strategy. PrEP was first introduced to Vietnam in 2017 in a pilot program implemented by the Ministry of Health’s Vietnam Administration for HIV/AIDS Control (VAAC) and the USAID/PATH Healthy Markets project, there are now more than 210 clinics in 29 provinces offering PrEP, with about 50% of clients seeking PrEP through the private sector. Over 60,000 people have received PrEP, making Vietnam only second to Australia in the Asia-Pacific region in terms of its coverage. While this is impressive, only half of Vietnam’s provinces offer PrEP and more than a quarter of key populations at high risk for HIV are still not accessing it. On October 26, VAAC convened a high-level meeting with more than 200 national and provincial health leaders and stakeholders to discuss the results of Vietnam’s PrEP program from 2020 to 2022 and align future directions. The event marked the official national launch of telemedicine PrEP (or TelePrEP), a critical approach in promoting national access to PrEP, supported by USAID.
This critical workshop highlighted Vietnam’s success in scaling up life-saving PrEP and the need for additional PrEP products, service models, and financing mechanisms to further close the gap in unmet PrEP need and advance Vietnam’s progress toward elimination of AIDS by 2030.
USAID/PATH