NAPWA

Are we running out of GPs?

Why would anyone choose to specialise in HIV medicine? And what possible incentives are there to make you stay? These are questions you may well have contemplated while sitting in your own doctor’s waiting room. read more »

Dental scheme continues

It looked like it wouldn’t last, but the Medicare Enhanced Primary Care (EPC) Dental Scheme appears likely to continue into the foreseeable future.

Under the scheme, you are able to claim up to $4,250 in Medicare Benefits over two consecutive calendar years. The two-calendar year period is counted from the calendar year of your first dental service. read more »

Microbicide and vaccine both hit snags

PRO 2000, the microbicide gel, has failed to protect women against HIV infection in the largest microbicide studyA clinical trial is a research study to answer specific questions about vaccines or new therapies or new ways of using known treatments. Clinical trials are used to determine whether new drugs or treatments are both safe and effective. Carefully conducted clinical trials are the fastest and safest way to find treatments that work in people. Trials are in four phases: Phase I tests a new drug or treatment in a small group; Phase II expands the study to a larger group of people; Phase III expands the study to an even larger group of people; and Phase IV takes place after the drug or treatment has been licensed and marketed. to date. read more »

HIV legal website launched

AIDSLEX is an international tool for activists, community organisations, researchers, policymakers, journalists, health workers and anyone who wants quick and easy access to a wide range of resources about HIV, human rights and the law.

The central component of the website is a database of over 2700 documents (and growing) on a range of human rights and legal issues related to HIV. read more »

Fosamprenavir linked to heart problems

In December, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) issued a letter alerting clinicians to the potential association between use of their protease inhibitor fosamprenavir (Telzir) and dyslipidemia (abnormal blood fatA fat. levels) and myocardial infarction (heart attackA life-threatening emergency in which the blood supply to the heart is suddenly cut off, causing the heart muscle (myocardium) to die from lack of oxygen.). read more »

Three treatments for the price of one

For the cost of a single PBS[Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme] The federal government program which subsidises medication costs in Australia. Anti-HIV drugs are part of a special part of the PBS called Section 100 (S100) which is used for expensive, highly specialised drugs. script, Australians now have access to Atripla, the first HIV medication to combine three treatments in a single once-a-day tablet.

The new pill contains 300mg tenofovir + 200mg emtricitabine + 600mg efavirenz and is available for those either starting treatment for the first time or changing from other HIV treatments. read more »

Generic drug breakthrough

UNITAID, the international finance mechanism for drugs to treat HIV, tuberculosis and malaria, has given the go-ahead for a patent pool for antiretroviralA medication or other substance which is active against retroviruses such as HIV. drugs, a mechanism to promote wider licensing of patented drugs to generic manufacturers, in order to lower the cost of treatment. read more »

International figures both good and bad

Increasing access to antiretroviralA medication or other substance which is active against retroviruses such as HIV. therapy is finally starting to have a positive impact on the global epidemic. read more »

Tales from The Network

There is a network of workers located at AIDS Councils and PLHIVPerson (or people) Living with HIV. This term is now preferred over the older PLWHA. organisations around Australasia who understand the variety of treatment issues faced by positive people. We call them the Treataware Outreach Network.

ADRIAN OGIER thought it was time we shared some of their stories. read more »

RESISTING RESISTANCE

Developing resistanceHIV which has mutated and is less susceptible to the effects of one or more anti-HIV drugs is said to be resistant. to HIV is by no means a certainty but it is certainly something you want to avoid. Neil McKellar-Stewart explains what it is, how it comes about and what you can do about it. read more »

Ahead of Time: A practical guide to growing older with HIV

This booklet is specifically designed to help people living with HIV make the best decisions about their health as they begin to grow older.

It contains the latest information on the medical and social challenges of growing older with HIV. Some of the topics covered in this new booklet are cardiovascular, liverA large organ, located in the upper right abdomen, which assists in digestion by metabolising carbohydrates, fats and proteins, stores vitamins and minerals, produces amino acids, bile and cholesterol, and removes toxins from the blood., kidney and bone health, cancer screening, menopause and more . . . read more »

DO YOU LIKE US?

Thank you to everyone who completed our recent readership survey. Most of the feedback was extremely positive and your comments highly constructive.

One thing we’ve learned is that a lot of you have been reading Positive Living for a number of years (50% of you for more than five years). This tells us we have a very loyal readership, which is heartening. read more »