The “Joint Action on integrating prevention, testing and link to care strategies across HIV, Viral Hepatitis, TB & STIs in Europe” (INTEGRATE) has the overall objective to increase Integrated early diagnosis and linkage to prevention and care of HIV, viral hepatitis, TB and STIs in EU Member States by 2020.
A number of tools have been developed to reduce transmission, optimize early diagnosis and linkage to care for one or more of these four diseases. INTEGRATE will map relevant existing tools for cross-linking. A peer-review process will identify which of these tools are complimentary or redundant for other disease(s), and which could be adapted or require further innovation.
HIV, viral hepatitis, TB and STIs are cross-borders public health threats of concern to Europe that affect vulnerable populations disproportionately and require personalised interventions. As multiple dimensional approaches are required to reduce the public health burden, the most optimal profile of approaches that provide additive effects (and that are reasonably cost-effective) should be identified and implemented broadly.
INTEGRATE provides a platform to disseminate and exchange best practice among Member States and facilitate discussions on innovations and emerging issues within the four diseases. In this respect, INTEGRATE is a shared European effort that extends beyond the partners and can create important synergies across European stakeholders, projects and initiatives.
INTEGRATE supports the implementation of the Commission Communication on ‘Combating HIV/AIDS in the European Union and neighboring countries’ and the ‘Action Plan on HIV/AIDS in the EU and neighboring countries’ by ensuring better preparedness across the EU and by identifying innovative evidence-based testing and prevention tools to reduce new cases of HIV, viral hepatitis, TB and STIs in priority groups.
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The Joint Action proposal on “HIV and Co-infection Prevention and Harm Reduction” (HA-REACT) addresses existing gaps in the prevention of HIV and other co-infections (especially tuberculosis and hepatitis) in priority areas of the EU. Despite huge advances in treatment and care and successful implementation of evidence-based preventive interventions in many EU member states, these infections are still not controlled among certain population groups and regions. The HA-REACT Joint action (JA) directly addresses the Communication from the Commission [COM(2009)569] on “Combating HIV/AIDS in the European Union and neighbouring countries, 2009 -2013” and relevant actions laid out in the associated [SWD(2014)106] action plan extension 2014-2016. The project takes a practical rather than a theoretical or purely guiding approach. It will implement concerted, multi-country, and multi-actor actions, strengthening evidence-based practices in the focus countries, where the situation and needs are particularly challenging. Focused action for greater impact is the leading principle of this proposal. The HA-REACT will focus on pragmatic actions targeting the most vulnerable populations, i.e. people who inject drugs (PWID). The focus countries for the JA were selected according to an objective and transparent selection criteria, developed by the ECDC and the EMCDDA in which the countries were ranked according to their epidemic situation and coverage of preventive measures. In addition to work packages of Coordination, Dissemination and Evaluation, HA-REACT actions are organized into five core work packages: Testing and linkage to care, Scaling up harm reduction, Harm reduction and continuity of care in prisons, Integrated care, Sustainability and long-term funding.
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