Pharmacy-based HIV Testing Pilot Results
Study shows accessing HIV testing in a pharmacy setting is both feasible and acceptable.
Due to ongoing demand, the GetATest program will continue at The Village Pharmacy until May 2021.
On December 1, 2019, The Village Pharmacy launched the GetATest HIV Testing Pilot.
In partnership with the Ontario HIV Treatment Network, this pilot program sought to assess the feasibility of administering HIV tests by a trained pharmacist, in a pharmacy setting.
In the first 6 months of the study, The Village Pharmacy performed about 500 HIV tests. And, people who received an HIV test at The Village Pharmacy reported high satisfaction with the overall testing experience.
In light of continued demand for Pharmacy-based HIV Testing, The Village Pharmacy will continue to offer HIV tests until May 2021.
Click here for info on how to get your HIV Test at The Village Pharmacy
Read more about the GetATest Program on GetaTest.ca
“Being available to make it easier for folks
to check themselves is the goal. Knowing
your status is important and hospitals take
longer. This program should be at every
pharmacy, clinic and etc.”
“Easily accessible for all. Quick and easy.
The pharmacist was very nice and informative.
They made me feel comfortable. Not in a scary
clinical environment which makes you feel
comfortable about going to do it.”
MEDIA RELEASE - Dec. 1, 2020
December 1 st , 2020 commemorates World AIDS Day.
The theme of this year’s World AIDS Day is “Global solidarity, shared responsibility”.
On this day, people around the globe come together in solidarity to reflect on the fight against the HIV pandemic, recognizing our collective successes, losses, and responsibilities. The global response to HIV and AIDS in 2020 has been significantly impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Health systems have had to quickly adapt and change in order to ensure continued support access to services, and pharmacies were certainly no exception.
Over the last 12-months, GetaTest has found that accessing HIV testing in a pharmacy setting is both feasible and acceptable – you can read more about our findings from this past year at www.getatest.ca.
Since the lockdown in March 2020, we’ve also found that there is still a need for HIV testing and that pharmacies are in a unique position to offer this while access to other testing sites is reduced. We understand that access to low-barrier testing options is more important than ever. So for this reason, and in light of the ongoing service restrictions due to COVID-19, we’re pleased to announce that The Village Pharmacy will continue to offer HIV testing through the GetaTest program until May 2021.
As a reminder, for anyone who wishes to access HIV testing at The Village Pharmacy, please inform them that they must now call ahead to the testing clinic. They will be asked a few screening questions over the phone, and an appointment for a rapid HIV test will then scheduled to take place during clinic hours.
The phone number for The Village Pharmacy is: 416-960-2323. More information can be found at The Village Pharmacy’s website.
Get tested, #knowyourstatus, and take control of your health.
Yours in Solidarity,
The Village Pharmacy