Updated 16/03/2025

Country overview

There are no restrictions on entry or residence in the country for people living with HIV. Antiretroviral drugs may be carried for personal use in quantities appropriate for the length of stay. All services related to HIV treatment, including ART, are free for citizens of Belarus.

Labor migrants

All migrants legally residing in the country, including workers (but excluding citizens of Azerbaijan and Georgia), have the right to free emergency medical care. However, the treatment and diagnosis of HIV infection is not included. The provision of HIV treatment services varies across migrant groups:

Citizens of the CIS countries (except Russia) and the Republic of Vietnam, regardless of whether they have a residence permit or not, must pay for routine medical care.
Citizens of countries outside the CIS, as well as citizens of Russia, must obtain a residence permit to receive free routine medical care, including treatment and ongoing care related to HIV.
Syrian citizens must take out a medical insurance policy to receive free routine medical care.
All minor foreign citizens have the right to receive treatment for HIV and receive routine medical care at the expense of the state.

Refugees

Ukrainian citizens who left their country after February 2022 are recognized as refugees. People with HIV can receive treatment, but they undergo diagnostics at their own expense. To receive ARV therapy, you must provide an extract from your medical record. However, in some cases, drugs can be given based on the patient's words. This practice is not widespread and is carried out solely on the initiative of doctors, who bear personal responsibility for this.

While people have the status of asylum seekers in the territory of the Republic of Belarus, then all planned medical care, including treatment and observation for HIV infection, will be paid. Following recognition of refugee status, all medical services are provided free of charge.

People traveling or in transit do not have the opportunity to receive ART.

Access to treatment

After receiving a residence permit or citizenship, you must go to the clinic and make an appointment with a doctor. There is no concept of health insurance in Belarus. Medical services for citizens of Belarus and citizens with a residence permit are provided free of charge. All regional and district centers have infectious diseases departments.

To get medical help, find the nearest specialized clinic near where you live. If you have difficulty choosing a clinic, you can turn to non-profit organizations from the NGO section for help.

Healthcare Institution "City Clinical Infectious Diseases Hospital"

Web site: www.gkib.by

Address: Minsk, st. Kropotkina, 76

Phone: +375 17-334-14-52; +375 17-334-14-33

Antiretroviral drugs are not sold in pharmacies. There are no official channels to order ART abroad. The mail is checked at customs, and the drugs may not be allowed through. There are fewer difficulties with the delivery of drugs from Russia. You can order from a warehouse in the Russian Federation on the website www.u-hiv.com.

In emergency cases, when you find yourself without ART, you can contact the RPO “People PLUS” from the NGO section. The organization has an emergency first aid kit containing a small number of drugs from a limited range.