GMHC Cuts Ribbon on New HIV-Specialized Duane Reade

On Friday, October 24, the Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) and Walgreens were joined by city, state and federal elected officials at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new HIV-specialized Duane Reade pharmacy in GMHC's David Geffen Center for HIV Prevention and Health Education.

Elected officials including Congressman Jerrold Nadler, NYS Senator Brad Hoylman, Public Advocate Letitia James and Council Member Corey Johnson gathered at 224 West 29th Street to cut the ribbon on the new pharmacy.

"Walgreens is proud to work in collaboration with Gay Men's Health Crisis to support New York City residents affected by HIV through Duane Reade pharmacies," said Glen Pietrandoni, senior director virology, Walgreens. "For more than 30 years, Walgreens has worked with local AIDS service organization around the country to provide support and customized services for their clients. Beyond dispensing medication, our pharmacists are trained to provide confidential wellness consultations, coordinate care and benefits with physicians and insurance providers, and to help patients access financial support programs to reduce medication costs. Our primary objective is to provide personalized, confidential services to improve health outcomes and be part of the solution to end AIDS."

Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) and Walgreens strategic collaboration brought this HIV-specialized Duane Reade pharmacy to GMHC's David Geffen Center for HIV Prevention and Health Education on 29th Street in New York City. In addition, an HIV specially-trained pharmacist will also support clients at GMHC's office on 33rd Street and will offer patient consultations and prescription delivery services.

Through pharmacy support, GMHC clients have access to confidential pharmacy care to support medication needs in the same place they access GMHC services such as legal and mental health services, the meals program, workforce development trainings, or nutritional counseling.

"GMHC is proud to partner with Walgreens and Duane Reade on these two facilities and applaud their extensive and proven track record of working to improve the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS," said CEO Kelsey Louie. "As we move toward our collective goal of ending HIV/AIDS by 2020 in New York State, increasing access and removing geographic and stigma-related barriers to medication is key to ensuring that people living with HIV/AIDS are linked to sustainable care."

At GMHC's David Geffen Center for HIV Prevention and Health Education on 29th Street, GMHC tests approximately 2,600 people every year as part of a holistic care model that links newly diagnosed patients immediately with effective care. Clients who test positive for HIV are immediately linked to care by a GMHC staff member, who walks them a few blocks away to Mount Sinai Hospital's Comprehensive Health Program-Downtown. The client is then assigned a GMHC case officer to ensure sustained linkage to effective care.

The collaboration with Walgreens and Duane Reade adds to GMHC's holistic care model. By opening an onsite pharmacy, GMHC will be able to help establish relationships between our clients and their pharmacists to help them better understand their drug regimens. In addition, if someone tests HIV-negative, GMHC will continue to talk about the benefits of using Truvada as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) to help prevent HIV.

GMHC serves nearly 9,000 people a year living with and affected by HIV/AIDS in New York City, and including pharmacy services at these two locations will help remove barriers to effective treatment. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, early and consistent adherence to HIV/AIDS medication is key to a patient's own health, and to preventing further spread of the disease. Walgreens, Duane Reade and GMHC are increasing access to needed medication that will help stop the spread of HIV and improve the lives of those living with HIV and AIDS.

For more information, visit www.gmhc.org