HIV/AIDS organizations in Canada raise the alarm as funding for at-home HIV testing set to expire in the coming months. Following the approval of at-home testing kits ( The Approval) the Liberal federal government in August of 2022 announced a significant investment into making HIV testing more accessible in Canada. At the time, they pointed out that there were nearly 63,000 people living with HIV in Canada, with one in ten remaining undiagnosed. With over $17 million invested by the Canadian government to facilitate access to these tests, the initiative has been a cornerstone in identifying undiagnosed cases across the country. As noted by Public Health Canada, the authorization of the “INSTI HIV Self-Test” in November 2020 represented a significant step forward, offering a private, convenient, and stigma-reducing method for HIV screening. This initiative, crucial for reaching marginalized and hard-to-reach populations, received an extension with an additional $8.6 million for the year 2023-24 to continue supporting community-based organizations in their distribution efforts.

At-home HIV address the issue of accessibility by allowing individuals, especially those from historically marginalized communities with less access to healthcare, to discreetly and autonomously conduct tests, empowering them to make informed decisions about their health without interacting with potentially harmful healthcare settings. The Executive Director of the Canadian Aids Society also specifically flagged this testing being a resource for rural and remote communities with more limited healthcare.

However, as funding is set to conclude by March 2024, concerns have arisen regarding the sustainability of these efforts and the potential impact on HIV detection and care continuity. Interviews conducted on CanQueer with representatives from CATIE and the Canadian AIDS Society underscored the significant achievements of the program, notably in engaging first-time testers and facilitating access to care. For instance, Jodie Jollimore the Executive Director from CATIE highlighted the initiative’s success in reaching populations that had previously not been tested for HIV, with almost half of those utilizing the test kits doing so for the first time.

“This initiative really broke ground by making testing accessible to those who otherwise might not have sought it out. For many, it was their first time testing for HIV, showing how crucial these services are.“​ – Jodie Jollimore, Executive Director, CATIE

Despite these successes, the looming end of financial support raises questions about the future of HIV prevention and care in Canada. The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and the office of the Minister of Health have both stated to CanQueer that they are exploring options to ensure the continued availability of HIV self-test kits post-March 2024. This situation underscores the need for sustainable funding models to maintain the momentum gained in HIV prevention and care.

As the funding deadline approaches, the voice of community-based organizations and advocates becomes increasingly vital in urging the government to find lasting solutions. The testimony from those on the front lines of this initiative serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of continued investment in public health initiatives that have proven effective in reaching underserved populations. In our interview with the Canadian Aids Society they highlighted the impact the tests are having on the most vulnerable. 

“These are folks that have historically been targeted by some institutions. And so a workaround that allows them to receive this service provides autonomy in their own healthcare.” – Ken Miller, Executive Director, CAS

The community organizations are in agreement that the anecdotal evidence from the program has been a resounding success. They also note that the only real measurement will be from Health Canada which tracks rates nationally. The people who used the at-home tests did not reveal the outcomes to the community organizations. CATIE informed CanQueer that they intend on continuing the program, but will face financial challenges doing so as the federal funding runs out, CAS however stressed this point further and noted that not all of the community organizations had this capacity. 

Both agencies encouraged the federal government to explore finding additional funding for this initiative, something which the PHAC and the Ministers office indicated they were already doing. 

The full interviews are available on CanQueer