At a crossroads: The crucial role of pharmacists in healthcare teams to end the HIV epidemic

Therapeutic advances in treatment and prevention have slowed the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic, yet the virus and complications related to it still claim an alarming 630,000 lives globally every year.1,2 The United States’ goals for the Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) initiative include reducing new infections by 90% by the year 2030 and advancing health equity through key treatment and prevention initiatives.3 Multiple agencies, professions, and patient groups are working diligently to achieve the EHE goals. Pharmacists have long recognized that our profession is a key resource in ending the HIV epidemic. We demonstrate this in the work pharmacists perform on the front lines to support direct patient care and public health initiatives. Now, well over 40 years into the HIV epidemic, there is an opportunity to reflect. Have we reached the peak of what pharmacists can achieve, or is there more that remains to be done to increase our reach, effectiveness, and impact on the lives of people living with HIV? If there is more that pharmacists can contribute, what are the things limiting critical progress in this field? In this commentary we briefly summarize the current state of pharmacists’ contributions to ending the HIV epidemic and highlight some gaps to concentrate further efforts upon.