Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you to the witnesses for being here.
I have so many questions to ask and so little time.
Jody, I'll begin with you. I have a few questions for you.
I know since January 1, 2018, British Columbians at high risk of HIV infection have been able to receive pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, daily oral antiretroviral medication that prevents new HIV infection, at no cost. However, according to doctors and patients, this hasn't completely removed the barriers to accessing the drug.
In a 2018 article in The Globe and Mail, you're quoted as saying:
Now that cost is not a factor, it's actually getting people on the medication that's going to be the next big thing. Sometimes people think, “Oh, there's a program, so the work is done.” What we're saying is, it's really not. For us the work is just beginning.
Could you outline for us the remaining barriers to accessing PrEP and what you suggest we'd do?