Safe Access Takes A Groundbreaking Step Towards HIV Prevention with India’s First PrEP and PEP Locator

Safe Access has unveiled India’s first PrEP and PEP Locator—a community-sourced, LGBTQ+ affirming directory of providers offering preventive HIV care. The tool aims to put autonomy back in people’s hands by making it easier to find judgment-free access to PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) and PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis) services across the country.

For Shubham Choudhary, CEO of Safe Access, the launch was rooted in years of on-ground experience. The urgency of creating such a tool was especially clear in the case of PEP, which must be started within 72 hours of potential HIV exposure. “For somebody who wants to get on PEP, 72 hours is a very narrow window, especially for queer and trans people who already struggle to access healthcare because of stigma and discrimination,” Shubham explained.

The Process Behind the Locator and Mapping Access

Developing the Locator required intensive research, drawing on both Safe Access’s expertise and its grassroots community networks. While large cities such as Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru already had some physical centres, coverage in tier-two cities was limited and inconsistent.

According to Shubham, the team relied on community-sourced validation: “Everything has been listed as recommended by queer and trans individuals or LGBTQ+ organisations, collectives or groups. We went to small community organisations, asking them directly if somebody comes to you, where do you direct people?”

The result is a pan-India mapping that not only lists providers but also includes details about price points, whether services are available online or offline, and whether medicines can be shipped directly to patients. “Price is a very important factor when it comes to accessing care,” Shubham emphasised. “We wanted to put that information out there so people have some idea of the cost.”

Gaps in the Healthcare System That The Locator Flags

The creation of the Locator has highlighted both the strengths and weaknesses of India’s HIV prevention infrastructure. Larger cities may offer more straightforward access, but people in smaller towns often depend on community-based organisations (CBOs) that have built informal networks with government hospitals. In some cases, CBOs even escort individuals to public facilities to ensure they receive care.

Affordability remains another critical factor. “There are people who are giving it at really subsidised prices,” Shubham noted. “Not-for-profits have been doing a good job there in looking at the price factor and making it more affordable for the people who won’t be able to afford it otherwise.” By including sliding-scale options alongside market-rate providers, the Locator highlights both inequities and opportunities for more equitable care.

Beyond logistics, Safe Access sees the Locator as part of a broader shift. “So far the focus has been on testing and treatment, but now we have such effective options like PrEP and PEP to protect oneself from contracting HIV,” said Shubham. “A larger shift needs to happen in India—from treatment to prevention.”

Towards The Bigger Shift In Terms of Trust and Policy Change

Although still in its early stages, Safe Access has built in plans for sustainability. Providers will be contacted every six months to update their information, while users will be encouraged to leave reviews. “We want more and more people to engage with and review the listed providers and organisations so that others can build trust in this system,” Shubham explained.

The team hopes the Locator will become more than just a directory. By sparking conversations about prevention, it has the potential to influence healthcare priorities and policy. “We are talking about the shift from testing and treatment to preventive care when it comes to HIV,” Shubham said. “PrEP is not new, but it is fairly new in India. People need to be educated about it and see if this is something they should be looking into.”

At its core, the PrEP/PEP Locator is about giving individuals the ability to take charge of their own health without fear or stigma. As Shubham put it, the vision is simple yet radical: “We really want the community to get firsthand information that helps them establish trust in a health service provider, and to feel more comfortable accessing this kind of care.”