GOOD MEDICINE
Groundbreaking new San Antonio pharmacy doses out LGBT-affirming care
The new pharmacy hopes to make visits easier — and as a result, more frequent — for people who are marginalized for their gender or sexuality.
On television, pharmacy scenes are typically played for laughs. An oblivious clerk embarrasses customers by reading prescriptions out loud, revealing a sensitive condition or setting up a silly misunderstanding. Like most common tropes, the bits relieve common anxieties through amplification. Surely, no drugstore experience could be that bad.
For many members of the LGBTQIA+ community, however, negative encounters remain a pressing concern. According to research published in the American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, an estimated 28 percent of LGBTQIA+ patients have postponed care for fear of discrimination. 50 percent have reported seeing providers that were unable to address their individual needs.
With its first San Antonio location at the Kind Clinic at 730 Isom Rd., Avita Pharmacy hopes to address those disparities of care. Now patients can fill their prescriptions next door to the doctor’s office, moments after their appointment.
“For many patients, one negative healthcare experience can prevent them from continuing or seeking future care,” explains Avita Care Solutions CEO Michael Yount in a release. “It can be especially difficult for LGBTQIA+ patients to find a pharmacist who understands and affirms their unique healthcare needs.”
The partnership with Kind Clinic is key. Since 2015, the offshoot of Texas Health Action, a state nonprofit, has provided services in Austin, Dallas, and San Antonio. The clinic serves more than 25,000 patients yearly, helping to remove the stigma around PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis), HIV and STI testing, and gender-confirming care.
The wide array of HIV-related services makes the joint venture particularly impactful in San Antonio. According to the Texas Department of State Health Services’ 2019 People Living with HIV report, Alamo City has the third largest number of HIV cases out of the state’s 28 HIV Service Delivery Areas. Unfettered access to care supports the health of the whole community.
“Our partnership with Avita Pharmacy helps remove barriers to accessing medications, which is critical for preventing the transmission of HIV and STIs in San Antonio,” added Texas Health Action CEO Christopher Hamilton.
Avita Pharmacy is now open 9 am to 5:30 pm, Monday through Friday. Prescriptions can be transferred to this location online.
