Background In our country, HIV-positive ambulatory patients are monitored by the Infectious Diseases Units of designated hospitals, monthly. Antiretroviral medication (ART) is prescribed in each Unit and dispensed at the hospital pharmacy. An extracurricular collaboration of the two departments, has been implemented, since November 2010 and its impact is assessed in this study.

Purpose To evaluate the contribution of the collaboration between the hospital pharmacy and the Infectious Diseases Unit to the healthcare of HIV-positive patients and identify their needs.

Material and methods 210 patients of the Infectious Diseases Unit, receiving ART from the hospital pharmacy participated in the study. A social worker employed by the Infectious Diseases Unit but offering services in the hospital pharmacy assisted in the dispensing of the medications. Demographic data and evaluation of provided services were collected through the use of a questionnaire and were analysed by EXCEL^®.

Results Among the patients, 91% were male, 76% had an income, 11% were Welfare beneficiaries, 23% were unemployed and 7% had no insurance. An 80% reported difficulties in issuing and renewal of a Healthcare Card. An 86% considered the services offered either very good or exceptional. Moreover, 78% welcomed the presence of a social worker in the pharmacy, providing help in HIV related issues (88%) and solutions in socioeconomic matters (86%). An 83.5% wished that the pharmacy dispensed medication more than twice a week. Most of them worried about the possibilities of antiretroviral shortage due to the economic crisis (76%) and having to take generics (49%).

Conclusion The extracurricular cooperation between the two departments of the Hospital contributed to the improvement of the provided healthcare services to patients under ART in our country. Problems and needs were identified and most of them addressed. The presence of the social worker in the hospital pharmacy was considered effective and valuable. The collaboration is on-going.

References and/or acknowledgements None

No conflict of interest.