Sunday marks World AIDs Day and doctors, researchers, and community advocates are raising the alarm over the significant rise in HIV rates across Canada, including Alberta.
According to an annual report by Alberta Health, the number of reported HIV cases nearly double since 2019 and increased 73% between 2022 and 2023.
“Our clinics are busting at the seams. We’re doing more work with much of the same resources,” said Dr. Caley Shukalek, a Calgary physician who works at an HIV clinics and is the co-founder Freddie, a company offering treatment and medications across the country.
“It’s a struggle to get patients to be seen immediately on diagnoses and that’s just because we don’t have enough doctors experienced and interested in being the clinics. We have a shortage of a nurse supply and shortage of inhouse pharmacists to help us manage these patients.”
There are a multitude of reasons for the rise.
Experts in the field say reduced access to testing and …