Rollout of the VIHTest program in France

Introduction – The VIHTest program has been in effect since January 1, 2022. As a result, any person covered by social security who visits a laboratory to undergo an HIV screening test as part of this program is covered in the same way as a patient who would present with a doctor’s prescription. This additional program follows the positive results of the “Au labo sans ordo” (Also) pilot. The objective of this article is to describe the rollout and scaling up of this program between January 2022 and December 2023 in France. Method – The data are drawn from the National Health Data System (SNDS). The evolution of the rollout is presented for France as a whole, by sex, age group, and region. Results – The program is scaling up, with VIHTests accounting for 5% of reimbursed HIV tests in 2022 and nearly 15% in 2023. Men are overrepresented compared to all reimbursed tests, as are those aged 40–59. Regional disparities exist, with some regions showing a higher rate of VIHTest use. Conclusion – The program’s rollout is accelerating across the country and appears to reach a different population than those getting tested by prescription. However, the heterogeneity in the implementation of VIHTest across regions underscores the need to harmonize the promotion of the program, particularly among the population targeted by the HIV testing recommendations of the Haute Autorité de santé (HAS).

Author(s): Martel Mélanie, Brunet Sarah, Cazein Françoise

Publishing year: 2024

Pages: 526-532

Weekly Epidemiological Bulletin, 2024, n° 23-24, p. 526-532

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