ATAP Enrollment Medical Criteria:

To qualify for ATAP, patients must certify that they meet the medical criteria for starting ARV medication. In most cases, patients must meet the AIDS defining criteria or indicators of the need to initiate treatment according to international guidelines such as those of the WHO, DHHS and IAS-USA. However, the final decision as to whether a patient is eligible for starting ARVs should come from case-by-case discussions between our medical team and the applicant’s treating physicians.

As a general guideline, the CD4 count is the most important indicator of the need to start treatment, but, as a general rule, treatment is highly suggested to patients with 200 cells or less and/or viral load over 100,000 copies/ml and/or the presence of one or more opportunistic infections and/or a rapid (accelerated) CD4 count decline. Treatment is offered to patients that show a CD4 count between 200 and 350/mm or below 14%. Factors that influence the decision to treat within the range of CD4 200-350/mm are the viral load, CD4 trajectory, older age, proximity of CD4 count to 200/mm, presence of opportunistic processes, patient’s readiness and transmission risk factors (IDU vs.). It is known through clinical trials that patients starting treatment early show better prognosis over time and a decreased chance of progression to AIDS.

In the event that the patient already initiated and currently is on ARV therapy and cannot continue it due to medication provision difficulties, we can help providing the same therapy as long as he or she continues to have a medical indication for it.

All of these conditions must be proven with copies of original lab results and/or medical or hospital reports. These results and reports must not be older than 6 months prior to the application date.

Please note that patients with higher CD4 counts and/or lower Viral Load levels than required for initiation of drug therapy, and/or the absence of opportunistic infections that are not currently on ARV treatment can also be eligible for ARV therapy as long as they show proof of having achieved such conditions by being on ARV drug therapy and that they discontinuation was merely due to supply complications.

Other conditions for accessing the ARV coverage are:

•   Clients must not have any other source of medication coverage. These include governmental Institutions, national programs, social security, private funds or foundations, private insurance or coverage from any other source and the lack of economic means to purchase the medication.

•  Applicants must have a treating doctor for the HIV or AIDS status.

•  Periodic submission of results of CD4 count, Viral Load and medical reports is required in order to maintain coverage and continuity of the drug supply. One every 6 months (biannually)

ATAP Enrollment Requirements >>

Enrollment Requirements >>
Including : Process I Approval I Drug Availability I Privacy I Communication I Shipping of Meds I

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