April 12, 2024
The Honorable Mark Holland,
Minister of Health
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON
K1A 0A6
Email: [email protected]
Dear Minister Holland,
On behalf of PAN and our members, I write to voice profound disappointment at the discontinuation of federal funding for the National HIV Self-Testing Program. This decision comes at a particularly concerning time, given the alarming 25% rise in HIV transmissions across Canada in 2022, the highest increase seen in a decade. Similarly, here in British Columbia, the BC Centre for Disease Control surveillance reports suggest an increasing trend of new HIV diagnoses.
PAN is a network of over forty community-based organizations (CBOs) and peer-run organizations providing STIBBI and harm reduction services across BC, including in many rural and remote and Indigenous communities. Our members work on the frontlines to support people that often face barriers in accessing traditional HIV prevention, testing, and linkage to care services. Our members excel at relational care, in meeting people where they are at, and in providing services across the care continuum.
The HIV Self-Testing Program, supported by the Public Health Agency of Canada, has been a welcome strategy in reaching key populations here in BC and across Canada, offering low-barrier testing options for people who are hard-to-reach. Utilizing the HIV Self-Testing kits, our member organizations have been able to link people with treatment, care, and ongoing support. We know that having access to these kits has also empowered individuals by providing an anonymous and confidential option to manage their health.
The significance of HIV self-testing kits extends beyond their clinical value; they represent a critical tool for overcoming barriers to healthcare access, such as stigma, fear of judgment, and the challenges faced by individuals experiencing homelessness, substance use, and mental health issues. The distribution data has clearly indicated that the program particularly benefited those who might not otherwise have access to HIV testing, including those living in rural and remote communities, Black Canadians, Indigenous peoples, youth-at-risk, and members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community.
The program’s success is evident in its reach to first-time testers, nearly half of its participants, indicating its critical role in diagnosing individuals unaware of their HIV status. BC’s diverse population, geography, and limited availability of stigma-free and culturally safe spaces to access STIBBI testing presents unique challenges in HIV prevention and care, making the availability of self-testing kits essential.
The decision by the federal government to not continue funding this Program represents is a significant a step backward in Canada’s commitment to the global goal of ending HIV as a public health concern by 2030; and meeting the 95-95-95 targets by 2025 (that 95% of all people living with HIV know their status, 95% of those diagnosed receive antiretroviral treatment and 95% of those on treatment achieve viral suppression). It also contradicts the objectives of the recently released Government of Canada’s STBBI Action Plan 2024-2030. Canada’s collective response to HIV is at a juncture where the need for support and resources is more pronounced than ever. The discontinuation of federal funding for this critical program both undermines the progress made through the National HIV Self-Testing program, and risks leaving countless individuals without the means to know their status, connect to care, and prevent further transmission. It is disheartening to witness a departure from what should be a forward-moving strategy to address HIV epidemiology.
In the wake of rising transmissions and the demonstrated efficacy of the Program, we urgently call for a reconsideration of this funding decision. Let us not regress; the stakes are too high to halt a program that has proven its worth in facilitating early detection of HIV and ongoing relational care. Let us not cause further harms to hard-to-reach, underserved communities, and Indigenous peoples, among us.
PAN and our members stand ready to engage in dialogue and collaborate on ensuring the continuation and expansion of the HIV Self-testing Program. We hope for your support and leadership in recommitting to this evidence-based public health initiative.
Minister, thank you for your attention. We look forward to your prompt and positive response.
Yours Sincerely,
J. Evin Jones, Executive Director