Victoria and Tasmania are now the only states where co-payments for HIV antiretrovirals remain after the Queensland Government announced it would waive fees from 1 October, including for patients without Medicare.

Queensland patients with Medicare typically pay a $30 co-payment for a 60-day supply of medications, such as the fixed-dose combination drug Triumeq (abacavir/dolutegravir/lamivudine).

Alexis Apostolellis — CEO of the Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine (ASHM) — said waiving the co-payment from October would provide certainty to patients and doctors.

“It is essential in terms of ending HIV as a public health threat, and this is exactly what is needed because it just lowers the barrier for people accessing treatment and gets their viral load undetectable,” he said.