Checkpoint ARAS Network is expanding with a new centre, PrEPpoint ARAS Bucharest, where you can get PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis).

It is a completely new service, the first of its kind in Romania, created in response to the community's need for prevention and, above all, for information, education and PrEP monitoring. PrEPpoint ARAS Bucharest is a service developed by ARAS in partnership with the Prof. Dr. Matei Balș National Institute for Infectious Diseases and supported by the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

In recent years PrEP has become one of the preferred HIV prevention methods among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men. In the absence of a state initiative on prescribing, distributing and monitoring PrEP, ARAS is opening the country's first PrEP centre operating according to international recommendations.

At PrEPpoint ARAS Bucharest we have community-friendly medical and non-medical staff trained to manage the entire PrEP process.

Do I need PrEP? Is it right for me?

PrEP – pre-exposure prophylaxis means an HIV-negative person taking an HIV/antiretroviral medicine as prevention, i.e. to prevent HIV infection.

If you're not sure whether PrEP is right for you, contact us and an ARAS counsellor will carry out a risk assessment and recommend PrEP or not. A PrEP recommendation must follow a risk assessment. Risk exposure, in this case, means unprotected sexual contact with multiple partners.

What do I do if I want to get PrEP from PrEPpoint ARAS Bucharest?

Contact us at 0751.010.539 for a risk assessment and an initial discussion. After the discussion, if appropriate, we can book an appointment to start PrEP.

What are the centre's opening hours and where is it?

PrEPpoint ARAS Bucharest is open every WEDNESDAY from 17:00 to 21:00 and is located in the ARAS Health Centre at 20 Ocolului St..

What options are available for taking PrEP?

There are several ways to take PrEP. At PrEPpoint ARAS you can choose one of two options:

1. Daily PrEP – one pill every day, at the same time
2. On-demand PrEP – only when you plan to have risky/unprotected sex.

How does the process work at PrEPpoint ARAS?

At the first visit (I):

1. you'll be informed about your whole journey at the centre, all the steps, your rights and obligations will be explained, and you'll sign a treatment agreement plus other documents related to PrEP;
2. rapid tests for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections will be done (testing comes with pre- and post-test counselling);
3. you'll have a medical consultation – an infectious disease doctor will talk to you to assess your health and prescribe PrEP (if your current health allows you to start PrEP).
4. lab tests will be done – a nurse will take blood for other lab tests (to monitor side effects associated with PrEP). You can have the tests done at our centre (they cost 100 RON) or for free at the Prof. Dr. Matei Balș National Institute for Infectious Diseases (if you have health insurance and a health card).

The second visit (II):

1. takes place one week after the first visit.
2. depending on the lab results, PrEP medication is dispensed for 30 days/30 tablets.

The third visit (III):

1. those who choose daily PrEP, about one month after visit II must return to the centre to repeat the rapid tests, and PrEP medication is dispensed for 60 days.
2. those who choose on-demand PrEP book an appointment when they run out of pills, but no later than 3 months after visit II. The rapid tests, lab tests and medical visit will be repeated and PrEP medication (30 tablets) dispensed.

The fourth visit (IV):

1. Those who choose daily PrEP will return to the centre after about 2 months for rapid testing, lab tests, a medical visit and PrEP medication for 90 days.

Subsequent visits take place about every 3 months, repeating the procedures listed for visit IV.

For more information, contact us at 0751.010.539 or preppoint@arasnet.ro.

PrEPpoint ARAS Bucharest is a service developed by ARAS in partnership with the Prof. Dr. Matei Balș National Institute for Infectious Diseases and supported by the Elton John AIDS Foundation.