Positive Living Society of British Columbia (Formally BCPWA)

This presentation was made to the Select Standing Committee on Health of the Government of British Columbia. In this presentation, the BCPWA outlines why HIV remains a serious threat to British Columbians, the epidemiology of the disease, implications of viral mutation for treatment, health care providers lack of knowledge of HIV treatments, and implications on health care funding due to the HIV epidemic. The Society makes recommendations to the Committee further to British Columbia's Framework for Action on HIV/AIDS to involve people living with HIV/AIDS and community based organizations to save health care dollars in the fight against AIDS and to review the definition of prevention to include health promotion to slow progression of the disease and reduce transmission thus reducing health care costs.

The BC Persons with AIDS Society has noticed that some its members are considering returning to the workforce or entering the workforce for the first time. This document outlines issues and guiding principles that the Society has developed in consultation with Health Canada to address the complex issues of returning to work to best support its members. The principles address the individual with HIV, HIV/AIDS community organizations, governments and private agencies with respect to medical science and research, self-determination, flexibility, safety, responsibility, and income security. The society recommends adopting these principles to guide the development of practices, policies and programs that will make the return to work a positive and rewarding experience rather than a burden that exacerbates the hardships related to HIV disease.

The BC Persons with AIDS Society made this submission to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health on September 22, 2003 because pharmeceutical products are a key component to staying alive for most HIV positive people and HIV positive people have a strong vested interest in what the Standing Committee hears, understands and recommends. In the submission, the Society notes the rising cost of prescription drugs, how those rising costs affect people with HIV and the role of the Patent Medicines Pricing Review Board and the then newly created Common Drug Review in determining drug pricing or even whether provinces will consider placing a drug in its formulary. The Society makes several recommendations on the following: Mechanisms for reviewing and controlling prices on all prescription drugs; Mechanisms for approving new drugs and introducing them onto the market, with respect to their therapeutic value, their side effects, their interactions with other drugs etc., as well as a focus on clinical trials; Monitoring of adverse effects and prescribing practices; Direct-To-Consumer Adversting. Underlying all issues related to prescriptions drugs and these recommendations are a few key principles. The BCPWA Society believes in our right to make informed choices; our right as consumers to have a voice in all aspects of decision making regarding prescription drugs from bench to beside; transparency by both industry and government regarding all aspects of prescription drugs; the responsibility of the state to create the conditions necessary to permit its citizens to maximize their health; the need for safe, effective and accessible products, recognizing that safety, efficacy, and accessibility may be defined differently depending on the state of one's health.

The third edition of the Positive Living Manual (PLM) offers a range of information about living with HIV/AIDS, the basics for newly diagnosed, treatment information, lifestyle choices, advocacy issues, risk reduction tips, end-of-life planning and community resources. Table of contents 01 Acknowlegements; 02 Table of Contents; 03 Message from the Editorial Board; 05 Introduction; 06 Newly Diagnosed; YOUR HEALTH: 07 The Basics 10 The Empowered Patient 11 HIV and Clinical Treatment Issues 12 Introduction to Antiretroviral Therapy 13 HAART How-To Guide 14 Interactions between Combination Therapies, Street Drugs, Alcohol, and Methadone 15 Opportunistic Infections 16 Structured (or Strategic) Treatment Interruptions (STI) 17 Clinical Trials 18 Women and HIV 22 Planning a Positive Pregnancy 24 HIV-Positive Children 25 Trans Positive Healthcare for HIV/AIDS 26 Co-Infections and Other Health Conditions 28 HIV and Stress 30 Mental Health; Positive Options: 33 HIV and Nutrition 34 How to get the most Nutrition on a Limited Budget 35 Nutrition and HIV 38 Exercise and HIV 39 The Healing Way 41 How to Recognize A Scam 42 Complementary and Alternative Medicine 45 Marijuana; Active Living: 47 Self-Empowerment 48 Working, Learning, and Volunteering 49 Long-Term Disability Plans 50 Persons With Disabilities Status 51 Income Sources 52 Housing Issues 53 Affordable Transportation 54 Declaring Bankruptcy 55 Collective Voices: Human Rights 56 Make Your Voice Heard; Between You, Me and ... : 57 What is Positive Prevention? 58 Disclosure of HIV Status 59 Legal Implications of Disclosure to Sexual Partners 60 Sexual Health for HIV-Positive Persons 61 Negotiating Safer Sex 62 Women who have sex with Women: are you at risk of HIV? 63 Risk Reduction Chart for Heterosexual Couples 64 Risk Reduction Chart for Gay Men 65 Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) 66 Safer Drug Use 67 Issues Affecting Incarcerated Populations; Exit Your Way: 69 Care at the End of Life 71 Wills 72 Representation Agreements 73 Funerals 74 Exit Your Way; 75 Resources; 91 Glossary