HivNorge (HivNorway) is Norway’s only patient organization for people living with HIV. Our foremost task is to secure and safeguard the rights and interests of people living with HIV or affected by HIV, such as relatives, PrEP users, and people at increased risk of infection.

Are you new in Norway and need HIV medication?

Everyone who stays in Norway and lives with HIV are entitled to free HIV treatment. Your nearest hospital with an infectious disease department would be able to provide you with necessary treatment.

If you have a general practitioner (GP), your GP will give you a referral to the infectious disease department at your nearest hospital. If you have not yet been assigned a GP, you can contact the infectious diseases department at the hospital yourself.

How to get a GP?

Identity numbers in Norway are birth and social security numbers. Alternatively, there are so called D numbers, a temporary ID number given to people who do not yet meet the criteria for being assigned an ordinary birth and social security number.

Everyone with a residency status in a Norwegian municipality have the right to a GP. A D number does not qualify for a GP, but there are exceptions, such as asylum seekers and their families. Contact your local municipality for help if necessary.

What kind of HIV treatment can you get?

HIV medication provided by Norwegian hospitals are based on tender rounds, and a prioritized list is drawn up for doctors to choose from. If for any reason you are not able to use any of the medication on the list, you may be offered other suitable medicine. These reasons are documented in the patient’s medical record.

It may be that you will receive a different HIV treatment than what you were used to in your home country.

Recommended vaccines.

The following vaccines are recommended by Norwegian Health Authorities for people living with HIV:

• Covid vaccine with booster doses.
• Annual influenza vaccine.
• Pneumococcal vaccination against pneumonia.
• Men who have sex with men are entitled to the hepatitis B vaccine free of charge.
• HPV vaccine is recommended for everyone under the age of 26 and men who have sex with men under the age of 40. Hepatitis A and/or B vaccine will be assessed on an individual level.

The vaccines can be obtained from your GP. The infectious diseases department at your local hospital may provide this if they have available capacity.

You may have to pay a small deductible for some of the vaccines. Clarify this with your doctor before ordering the vaccine.

Oath of Confidentiality

All health workers have to sign an oath of confidentiality. This is to prevent personal and health information from being passed on to others. This is stated in the Healthcare Personnel Act. Any staff member associated with a medical centre, such as cleaning staff, janitors, and office staff, have a duty of confidentiality through Section 13 of the Public Administration Act.

Any other question you may have related to living with HIV in Norway, please do not hesitate to contact us at HivNorge. We are here for you.