Hamilton doctor says Canada should follow U.S. ‘test to treat’ COVID-19 initiative

A doctor in Hamilton says Canada should implement a similar “Test to Treat” COVID-19 initiative as the U.S.

President Joe Biden announced the launch of the program during Tuesday night’s State of the Union Address. The White House provided more details about the strategy the next morning as part of their plan to allow people to safely return to normal activities after two years of pandemic disruptions.

A government official said the “Test to Treat” plan would initially roll out in hundreds of pharmacies across the U.S., and eventually expand beyond that. Those who test positive at the sites could receive antiviral pills for quick use to reduce the risk of severe outcomes.

While COVID-19 therapeutics have been given to patients at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton in recent months, Dr. Zain Chagla says greater access to antiviral medication at pharmacies is needed.

“Creating more points of entry in primary care, pharmacies and hospitals makes sure those vulnerable people who have immunosuppressive conditions, multiple comorbidities or are unvaccinated have access to something that’s easy and ready to get,” said Chagla, who is an infectious diseases physician.

The Monoclonal Antibody Therapy Clinic at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton is a pilot program providing treatment for high-risk outpatients with COVID-19 to reduce their risk of hospitalization or death.

A monoclonal antibody is a type of protein that attaches to the spike protein of the COVID-19 virus and prevents the virus from entering and infecting healthy cells within the body.

However, Chagla said there is a short time window for patients to receive this treatment, which is why a “Test to Treat” plan at pharmacies is necessary.

“We need redundancy in the system to reach those high-risk people,” he said.

“We’ve been giving therapeutics at St. Joe’s for three months now and it’s been going great, but there are people we miss.”

The “Test to Treat” strategy is one of many U.S. initiatives and investments included in a 90-page National COVID-19 Preparedness Plan.

It drew early concern as pharmacies across the U.S. have struggled with staffing issues in recent months. Pharmacists already giving vaccines, prescriptions and health advice are worried about the extra time needed if they add more COVID-19 testing and treating.