The Global Healthy Living Foundation (GHLF) has shared new results from a national survey looking at how patients with long-term health conditions experience access to oral antiviral treatments for COVID-19. The report, titled “Awareness and Access to COVID-19 Oral Antiviral Treatments Among U.S. Patients with Chronic Conditions,” explores how informed patients are about these treatments and how often that knowledge translates into getting them. The survey was designed to better understand the difficulties people with underlying health conditions face when trying to get timely antiviral care after testing positive for the virus.
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Dr. Robert Popovian, GHLF’s Chief Science Policy Officer and lead author of the report, pointed out some serious gaps. Even though almost 89 percent of high-risk patients knew oral antivirals existed, only about 56 percent actually got a prescription after a positive test. Some patients, roughly 15 percent, said their doctor never mentioned the antivirals during their visit. Another 11 percent were unsure if they even met the criteria for treatment. Dr. Popovian said these missed conversations might have stopped patients from getting potentially life-saving medication.
For those who did get a prescription, most followed the treatment plan exactly as instructed—about 91 percent. The report notes that this survey was done while oral antivirals were still free and testing was widely available. Now that federal funding has ended, patients may face more problems with cost, insurance approval, and access to testing. These new financial and practical challenges could make health inequalities worse for people who already have complex health issues.
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Dr. Popovian said the findings are a warning. Although awareness of antiviral options is high, that alone isn’t enough to make sure patients get proper care. He warned that delays in treatment and limited access can have serious consequences for those most at risk from severe COVID-19. He urged healthcare providers and policymakers to act now to keep antivirals accessible. This includes solving issues around affordability, coverage, and awareness—especially as federal emergency support is being phased out.
To learn more about the findings, GHLF has released a new episode of its Healthcare Matters podcast. In this episode, Dr. Popovian talks with Ben Blanc, GHLF’s Director of Digital Production and Engagement, about the results and why they matter now. The discussion covers how access challenges are changing and what steps can be taken to protect patients going forward.
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To participate in our interviews, please write to our HealthTech Media Room at sudipto@intentamplify.com
Source – businesswire
