Pharmacists needed: survey on STBBI Treatments

The BC Centre for Disease Control is calling on pharmacists across Canada to participate in a national survey that captures the experiences of healthcare providers when helping patients access treatments for sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBIs).

Why pharmacists’ input matters

Many populations most at risk for STBBIs—including individuals who use drugs, who are experiencing homelessness or housing instability, who have had experiences of incarceration, Indigenous peoples, and newcomers to Canada—face systemic barriers to access timely and affordable treatment. One of the most persistent barriers is difficulty obtaining or qualifying for prescription drug coverage.

Pharmacists’ involvement in this survey, is critical to better understand the challenges faced by patients and healthcare providers, and to better advocate for improved access.

Funded by several government agencies in B.C., the survey is entitled “Between the gaps: A cross-sectional survey of healthcare providers exploring prescription drug coverage barriers to accessing STBBI treatment.” It is part of research led by Dr. Sofia Bartlett and Budvin Wijetillake at the BC Centre for Disease Control. The STBBIs under study include hepatitis C, hepatitis B, human immunodeficiency virus, syphilis and others. The estimated time of the survey is 10 to 15 minutes. Data will be stored securely on an encrypted server hosted by the BC Provincial Health Services Authority, with access limited to the approved study team.