Unfortunately, the only way to access PrEP in British Columbia is through private insurance plans or paying for it out of pocket. In British Columbia, there is no pharmacare coverage for PrEP, although our community is working to change that. Some First Nations, Inuit, and Metis people may have the cost of PrEP covered.

If we pay for PrEP out of our own pocket, it can cost between $65 and $950 per month. Some private insurance plans cover part or all of the cost of PrEP, and some folks are getting a generic version of PrEP by importing it from another country, yet  PrEP remains financially out of reach for many of us. More details about how to get PrEP if we're paying for it out of pocket are available here.

If we decide to get PrEP through one of these ways, there are a few steps we need to take. 

1. Find a doctor we can talk with honestly about our sexual activities and/or drug use and who is willing to prescribe PrEP. YouthCO may also be able to help make a referral to a Health Promotion Case Manager who can help us find a health care provider willing to provide PrEP. Let us know if we can help - call us at 604-688-1441, or email info@youthco.org and we'll get back to you! Doctors in Canada can prescribe Truvada for PrEP, but not all doctors may have experience doing so.
2. Take medical tests to see if our body will be a good fit for Truvada. These tests include an HIV test immediately before starting PrEP, tests to measure kidney function, and tests to detect Hep B  and Hep C, as well as other STIs. Our doctor will also check about other health conditions we may have as it may impact how Truvada impacts our bodies and health.  
3. Get a prescription from our doctor, fill it, and get follow up care. Because Truvada only works for those of us who are HIV-negative, and it may impact our kidneys and bone density, it is important that we make ongoing appointments with our doctors. 

Our doctors may refer to the guidelines for prescribing PrEP developed by the Therapeutic Guidelines Committee at the British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS. These guidelines emphasize PrEP should be prescribed to HIV-negative people who have ongoing possible exposures to HIV . Further, they emphasize that people who are prescribed PrEP must test HIV-negative and commit to regular monitoring of their overall health and HIV-related risk behaviours, including HIV tests. In addition to the British Columbia guidelines, the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) in the United States and Quebec’s Ministry of Health and Social Services have also released PrEP guidelines (in French only).