EACS Standard of Care for HIV and Coinfections in Europe - Rome 2014

The first Standard of Care for HIV and Coinfections in Europe meeting was held on 25-26 November 2014. It brought leading experts together to identify routes to better clinical care and treatment for HIV and coinfections across Europe. The interactive discussion focused on topics including: epidemiology and late presentation across Europe; HIV testing policies; improving access to antiretroviral therapy (ART); improving retention and quality of care in Eastern Europe; HIV and tuberculosis across Europe; Hepatitis C coinfection; and access to DAAs.

MEETING CONCLUSIONS:

• There is a need to raise awareness and reduce stigma around HIV testing.
• Access to care for those diagnosed with HIV should be ensured and periodic evaluation of retention in care is needed.
• Prevention should pay special attention to key populations, such as people who inject drugs, migrants, prisoners and sex workers.
• Scaling up ART across Europe is essential, in particular Eastern Europe.
• Make care and thereby ART available to migrants. The cost of ART and treatment of co-morbidities as well as of HCV and tuberculosis can limit access to care.

Despite their limited numbers, the participants and panellists from Eastern Europe felt that this first meeting was a step towards empowering further regional activities on access and standard of care.

The first EACS Standard of Care in Europe meeting organised by Prof Andrea Antinori, Prof Antonella d'Arminio Monforte, and Prof Cristina Mussini was held in Rome in November 2014 to coincide with the Italian Presidency of the EU. The well-attended event had 110 participants from 21 countries.

The second EACS Standard of Care in Europe meeting was held in Brussels in November 2016.