“For the pharmacy employee, the issue was over – for me, the world was ending.”

Nils Claassen says he leads a “normal life”. He is 49 years old and works as a nursing service manager in Bremen. He is married to his partner. He says, in a way, he is the same with his dog. He volunteers as an “HIV buddy” for the German Aids Association. This means that he is the contact person for people who have just found out about their infection and advises on all the questions that arise with such a diagnosis.

“I have known that I have HIV for 21 years. Since then I have been dependent on medication. I have been taking the active ingredient combination emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil since 2006. This means that the virus can no longer be transmitted and the disease cannot break out. This is how I can live well with HIV. I can behave just like healthy people. This makes me feel safe. At least that was the case so far.

Since this winter I have been extremely unsettled. I’m shocked at how dependent my life is on supply shortages. I didn’t even really notice it at first. It was only an acquaintance who pointed out to me that my medication, of all things, was out of stock. The fact that many people with HIV are currently worried about whether their therapy with these active ingredients can continue. That many people who actually use this medication to protect themselves against HIV infection as a precaution have already stopped taking prophylaxis. Because there are no more tablets.

When I found out, I immediately ran to my local pharmacy. I still had 90 tablets at home, which will last me until April. But I know that my therapy must not be interrupted under any circumstances. How many times did my treating doctor tell me after my diagnosis: Take your medication at the same time every day. Never forget that. Nowadays, such precise intake is no longer necessary because medications have evolved. Nevertheless, it really unsettles me that I can’t rely on being adequately cared for.

From pharmacy to pharmacy – without success

I was also told at the pharmacy that the medication was no longer available. There are bottlenecks everywhere right now. Also with remedies for a cold or antibiotics. For the pharmacy employee, the issue was settled right then and there. The world ended for me. I was horrified. I tried another pharmacy. There was nothing there either. I was advised against exploring other locations. There is definitely no way anyone can reorder from the big manufacturers right now. I was advised to discuss with my doctor how I could switch to another active ingredient.

But for me it’s not about a cold remedy. It’s about a medication that I have been taking for many years. Who I have come to terms with. That I really depend on. Suddenly it says: It’s over now. I felt like someone had just told me for the first time that I had HIV. Then all the fears came back. From that time when I was so desperate after my diagnosis that I had to seek psychological help. Now the carousel of thoughts is turning again. What if the new drug doesn’t work so well? What if I have serious side effects?

Changing HIV therapy involves risks

There are certainly medications these days that I could easily avoid. But there is no guarantee that they will work well and that the change will work well. Such drugs have a strong impact on the body. I tried this once a few years ago. My doctor had advised me to try a more modern combination. Unfortunately, this backfired on me. I didn’t take it well. I remember a hellish headache, diarrhea, vomiting.

I was so happy at the time that I could decide to continue taking emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil. Now the situation is different. The external circumstances are forcing me to think about a change. Although the therapy works. Simply because there are shortages of medication. I feel alienated.

At least I was able to increase my reserve a little for the time being. After unsuccessfully searching for my place of residence, I set my sights on other cities. I called around. I was finally lucky in Hanover because a doctor specializing in HIV was able to recommend a pharmacy that actually still had the medication. I’ll be well looked after until August.

To this day, no one can really tell me whether the drug will be available again on a regular basis. I remain unstressed. In politics there is now finally a conversation about finding solutions. But I can’t rely on anything really happening and on time. Nobody stands up and says clearly: It just doesn’t work that way. I find that scandalous.”

Nils Claassen has started a petition to draw attention to the medication shortage. His demand: The Federal Ministry of Health must work to ensure that the health insurance companies’ price suppression through their discount agreements ends and that the domestic production of vital drugs is ensured. Here it is visible.