An inner-city health service that targets gay and bisexual men is running out of HIV testing kits and has levelled the blame squarely at the Newman government.
The Queensland AIDS Council claims it has come under sustained attack from Health Minister Lawrence Springborg since funding for the organisation, when it was still known as the Queensland Association for Healthy Communities, was cut in 2012.
It was one of the Newman government’s first contentious decisions after it was swept into office.
However, Mr Springborg’s office said it was a matter of a lack of communication from QuAC’s behalf that had prevented tests being provided.
QuAC executive director Michael Scott said the organisation was part of a rapid testing trial that started in November 2012.
But while other clinics continued to receive the kits from the state government, Mr Scott said QuAC’s supply had dried up, meaning they had to purchase kits for about $26 each.
“The Health Minister is very keen to implement strategies to reduce HIV infection and to roll out rapid testing,” he said.
“He’s known that our clinic has been operating for some time and I would have thought as a health minister he would have approached us to work with us, but he’s chosen not to.
“To be honest, I think it’s a political smokescreen he’s putting up to hide the reality, which is the Health Minister doesn’t want to work with the Queensland AIDS Council.”
Cameron Atfield
Brisbane Times
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