OBJECTIVES: Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV infection has been introduced in only a few European countries. We investigated the potential to provide PrEP in the Central and Eastern European region, and in neighbouring countries. METHODS: The Euroguidelines in Central and Eastern Europe (ECEE) Network Group was formed in February 2016 to review standards of care for HIV infection in the region. Information related to PrEP was collected through on-line surveys. Respondents were recruited by ECEE members based on their involvement in HIV care. RESULTS: Seventy-six respondents from 23 countries participated in the survey. Twenty-six (34.2%) respondents reported that PrEP [tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF)/emtricitabine (FTC)] was registered by the drug registration authority in their country. Fifty-three (70.7%) respondents reported being aware of 'informal' PrEP use in their country. If they had access to PrEP, 56 (74.7%) would advise its use in their practice. Forty-five (59.2%) respondents had concerns regarding PrEP use, and 10 (13.3%) expressed the need for more training. Most of the respondents (88.2%) would provide PrEP to people with high-risk behaviours. CONCLUSIONS: PrEP is already used informally in some countries in the region. Physicians are keen to use PrEP if and when it is accessible. Obstacles towards implementing PrEP in those countries were mostly related to lack of national guidelines, drug registration and governmental strategy.

Clinic for Infectious Diseases Clinical Center of Sarajevo University Sarajevo Bosnia and Herzegovina

Clinic of the Gromahevsky Institute of Epidemiology and Infectious Diseases Kiev Ukraine

Department of Adults' Infectious Diseases Medical University of Warsaw Warsaw Poland

Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases Hospital Na Bulovce Prague Czech Republic

Department of Infectious Diseases and Geographical Medicine University Hospital Bratislava Slovakia

Department of Infectious Diseases University Medical Center Ljubljana Ljubljana Slovenia

Hospital for Infectious Diseases HIV Out Patient Clinic Warsaw Poland

Hospital for Infectious Diseases Warsaw Poland

Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology Ege University Medical Faculty Izmir Turkey

Lviv Regional Public Health Center Lviv Ukraine

References provided by Crossref.org

PrEP Scale-Up and PEP in Central and Eastern Europe: Changes in Time and the Challenges We Face with No Expected HIV Vaccine in the near Future

HIV care in times of the COVID-19 crisis - Where are we now in Central and Eastern Europe?