CHUV Lausanne — Service des maladies infectieuses

The CMI is an outpatient consultation within CHUV’s infectious diseases service. Its work includes investigating infections in patients referred by a general practitioner or specialist, and providing outpatient treatment for people with a diagnosed infectious disease. Its sexual health provision includes HIV prevention through PrEP and PEP, alongside prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted infections, for patients older than 16.[6]

People living with HIV can receive continuing care from a team bringing together doctors, specialist nurses and a social worker. Follow-up is tailored to the person and coordinated with their usual doctor and other specialists involved in their care. This ongoing HIV care is a separate part of the consultation’s offer from preventive PrEP.[6]

For PrEP access, SwissPrEPared describes an initial medical consultation, HIV and other STI testing, and additional blood checks before a prescription. Subsequent check-ups assess possible side effects and include STI testing. CHUV specifies that PrEP taken as prescribed protects against HIV, but not against other sexually transmitted infections, including gonorrhoea, chlamydia and syphilis.[2][6]

Conditional coverage of HIV PrEP by Swiss compulsory health insurance began on 1 July 2024. Four requirements apply: Swiss health insurance, eligibility under the coverage criteria, a healthcare professional affiliated with SwissPrEPared, and that professional’s authorisation to bill compulsory insurance. Patients do not have to join either the SwissPrEPared programme or its research study to obtain coverage.[9][2][3]

The criteria identify three groups. The first comprises cis and trans men and trans women who have sex with men and meet at least one further criterion: condomless anal sex, intended condomless anal sex, an STI diagnosis or HIV PEP during the previous 12 months, or substance use during sex. The second comprises people having condomless sex with cis or trans men or trans women who have sex with men, or with sex workers from countries where HIV prevalence is high in the general population. The third comprises people having condomless sex with partners living with HIV whose viral load is not below the detection threshold.[2]

SwissPrEPared estimates total costs of about CHF 2,000–2,500 annually for daily PrEP, including medication, medical appointments and laboratory analyses. Insurance coverage still involves patient contributions: a monthly premium, an annual deductible between CHF 300 and CHF 2,500, and then a 10% share of healthcare costs up to CHF 700 per year. People outside the eligible groups must bear the full costs themselves.[2]

The national SwissPrEPared programme describes contacting an affiliated centre and arranging a first consultation as its entry process. CHUV describes the CMI’s diagnostic investigations as serving patients referred by doctors; its page does not confirm whether self-referral for PrEP or STI care is possible there. CMI reception on +41 21 314 10 22 and min.inf.cmi@chuv.ch, given in the centre listing, are contact details for clarifying access requirements; those details alone do not establish direct admission. People insured under a GP, telemedicine or similar model require a permanent referral when switching to a SwissPrEPared centre.[2][6][1]

Programme participants complete a questionnaire before each visit to support the consultation. Research participation is distinct: the study uses questionnaire data to investigate PrEP’s impact in Switzerland, keeps those data anonymous and requires written consent for their scientific use.[7]

The SwissPrEPared listing places the consultation at Rue du Bugnon 44, 1011 Lausanne. CHUV’s directions identify the CMI in the main hospital building, level 07, quartier papier, entrance 43. The infectious diseases service’s address is Rue du Bugnon 46; it is listed separately from the consultation address.[1][6]

Regular consultations run Monday to Friday, 09:00–12:00 and 13:30–16:00. Telephone hours run on the same weekdays, 09:00–12:00 and 13:30–16:30. Urgent PEP reception has a different schedule: Monday to Friday, 08:00–12:00 and 13:30–17:00, for exposure less than 48 hours earlier. Outside those urgent reception hours, CHUV directs exposed people to its emergency department promptly.[6]