As of October 2024, the Kazakh Center for Dermatology and Infectious Diseases has begun providing treatment to HIV-positive citizens of Kazakhstan who are migrants and unable to return home promptly. Now, all Central Asian countries, except for Turkmenistan, offer the opportunity for their migrants.
The remote registration mechanism serves citizens of Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA) who have been diagnosed with HIV while living abroad. This mechanism is essential for migrants who lack access to therapy in their destination country and are unable to return home to begin treatment. The remote treatment delivery model creates a vital entry point for cross-border HIV services, ensuring international migrants receive the care they need.
For some migrants, this is the only option to start timely HIV care and safeguard their health and lives.
In Kazakhstan, consultations and examinations for patients via the remote registration are conducted by infectious disease doctors via internet. Further consultations with a physician are also carried out. Patients undergo tests for viral load, CD4, and biochemical indicators at their place of current residence abroad and provide the results to their physician in Kazakhstan for ongoing care.
People living with HIV while in migration can contact the Shagi Foundation or other partner organizations for further information and support in accessing timely HIV care.