Free medications for the treatment of sexually transmitted infections

Download STI Medication Order Form

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) provides provincially funded medications to health care providers for the treatment of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) at NO COST to clients in accordance with the Sexual Health and Sexually Transmitted Infections Prevention and Control Protocol, Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, Ontario Public Health Standards 2018.

Along with surveillance, the WECHU conducts contact tracing and provides counselling and education to individuals who have tested positive for an STI. During client interviews, it is often reported that the client received the appropriate prescription for treatment from a health care provider, however did not fill the prescription due to their inability to pay for the medication.

The health unit would like to take this opportunity to ask clinicians to take advantage of this free medication. Clinicians are encouraged to maintain an appropriate level of stock medication in their offices to have ready on hand, based on client needs and the population that is served.  A reminder that the free medication can be used only to treat STI infections.

The STI Medication Order From is enclosed for your convenience and is also available on-line under the “For Professionals/Health Care Providers” section of our website, www.wechu.org, or can be received  by fax by calling our Infectious Disease Department at 519-258-2146 x 1420.

Notification: Under the Health Protection and Promotion Act (HPPA),R.S.O., 1990, physicians are required to report the detection of STIs as well as other diseases of public health significance to their local Medical Officer of Health. All clinically diagnosed, probable and confirmed cases must be reported to the WECHU by the next working day.

Treatment: preferred STI treatment in the absence of contraindications, allergies or pregnancy

Local Data

• In 2018, there were 181 lab confirmed cases of gonorrhea reported in Windsor and Essex County. This is in comparison to 156 reported cases in 2017.
• Reports of chlamydia are steadily climbing from 830 cases in 2016 to 868 cases in 2018 with early trends indicating rates to climb over 900 this year.
• Local cases of reported syphilis have doubled from 27 cases in 2016 to 56 cases in 2018.

For additional information or consultation, please call the Health Unit during regular office hours at 519-258-246 ext. 1420 or visit our website www.wechu.org. During after-hours and weekends, please call 519-973-4510.

Dr. Wajid Ahmed, MBBS, MAS, MSc, FRCPC
Medical Officer of Health