Our focus
HIV Sweden has adopted a program of ideas (2022) that sets out our views on various issues.
Treatment
HIV treatment should be patient-centered and individualized to ensure the right to the best possible care.
People living with HIV have the absolute right to choose, free of charge, the treatment that works for them and provides the best possible quality of life.
Sweden will work for the introduction of a fourth 90 target, under the UNAIDS 90-90-90 target to measure the perceived quality of life of people living with HIV.
HIV-Sweden believes that care should be of equal quality regardless of socio-economic and geographical differences.
The short-term and long-term impact of HIV treatment needs to be investigated.
Peer support
People diagnosed with HIV are legally obliged to meet a peer at the initial appointment at the infectious disease clinic.
All infectious disease clinics should provide peer support and discussion groups for people living with HIV.
Patient organizations for people living with HIV should include people living with HIV in designing and structuring peer support together with infectious disease clinics.
HIV and ageing - more healthy years
With the increased life expectancy of people living with HIV, efforts are needed to spread HIV awareness.
Knowledge needs to be updated in order to strengthen the conditions for good treatment in order to provide the best possible care.
Action plans in elderly care should always include HIV.
The agencies responsible for older people's issues have the task of ensuring that older people living with HIV are also able to live a life of dignity and well-being in accordance with the national core values for the care of older people.
Research is needed on menopause for people living with HIV.
Sex and HIV
HIV care needs to monitor the patient's sexual health as a matter of routine.
More research is needed on both female and male sexuality after an HIV diagnosis.
People living with HIV have the right to a good sexual life.
HIV care should offer the patient therapeutic help when needed to achieve good sexual health.
HIV should be an integral part of the overall SRHR work throughout the country.
HIV and migration
Everyone who comes to Sweden should be offered HIV and STI testing, regardless of their migration route.
Deportation to countries where an HIV diagnosis poses a risk to life and health should not take place.
People living with HIV, regardless of their migration status, have the right to legal expertise in the field of HIV in order to obtain the right assistance in legal proceedings.
HIV and pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding
All people living with HIV should have the same right to infertility treatment (IVF, adoption, etc.).
All women should receive free infant formula throughout the country due to the prohibition of breastfeeding under the Communicable Diseases Act.
Maternity care should be equal across the country.
Specialist maternity care should be complementary to regular maternity care.
Women living with HIV should be offered peer-to-peer support during pregnancy.
Testing and prevention
Testing should be easily accessible, frequent and always available to everyone in Sweden.
HIV testing should remain free of charge.
In case of a positive HIV test, peer to peer should be provided.
Low-threshold clinics for HIV and other STIs should be available throughout the country.
Condoms are a safe way to protect yourself against STIs regardless of your HIV status.
PrEP and PEP
PrEP is one of several effective prevention interventions and prescribing should be provided nationwide.
PEP should be provided when there is a need.
It is necessary to continuously analyze the use of PrEP to ensure that it works and how it affects people living with HIV over time.
chemsex
Chemsex users will receive interventions to reduce the prevalence of HIV, other STIs and improve individual health.
HIV services must be knowledgeable about chemsex in order to identify chemsex users among people living with HIV.
Health professionals must be trained to provide the best possible care for chemsex users.
Access to injection equipment
Injection equipment should be available throughout the country.
Syringe exchange services and low-threshold clinics should be available throughout the country.
It should be possible for community-based and community-driven activities to distribute injection equipment without legal obstacles.
Sex work
All countries should work towards the decriminalization, including both buyers and sellers, of voluntary sex work.
Health interventions should be made available and accepted towards people who engage in voluntary sex for remuneration based on principles of stigma avoidance, anti-discrimination and the right to health.
Dental care
People living with HIV who are on treatment should receive preventive dental care under high-cost coverage.