Global Healthy Living Foundation Report Says There Is High Awareness But Low Access To Oral COVID-19 Antivirals Among Patients with Chronic Conditions

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UPPER NYACK, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep 26, 2025--

The Global Healthy Living Foundation (GHLF) today released " Awareness and Access to COVID-19 Oral Antiviral Treatments Among U.S. Patients with Chronic Conditions " -- a national survey launched earlier this year by GHLF to better understand how patients with chronic conditions accessed oral antivirals for COVID-19 treatment.

The report, authored by Robert Popovian, PharmD, MS, GHLF’s Chief Science Policy Officer, sheds light on essential gaps in awareness, prescribing, and timely treatment.

The survey found that:

• Nearly 9 out of 10 high-risk patients (88.5%) were aware of oral COVID-19 antivirals, yet only 56 percent were prescribed one after testing positive
• 15 percent of patients reported their provider never discussed antivirals with them, and 11 percent were unsure of eligibility - highlighting missed opportunities for timely care
• Among those prescribed an antiviral, 91 percent adhered to treatment as directed
• The survey was conducted while antivirals were free, and testing was widely available. With federal support now ended, barriers such as cost, insurance coverage, and reduced access to testing may worsen disparities for patients with chronic conditions

"These results make it clear that while awareness of COVID-19 antivirals is high, access and utilization don't always follow, and access impediments can have serious consequences for patients who are most at risk," said Dr. Popovian.

"As costs rise and coverage shifts, policymakers and providers must ensure that antivirals remain accessible to those who need them the most," he added.

To coincide with the report, GHLF has released a special episode of its Healthcare Matters podcast, hosted by Dr. Popovian and Ben Blanc, Director of Digital Production and Engagement at GHLF. The episode explores survey findings in depth, explaining why they are relevant now and what policymakers and providers can do to safeguard access moving forward.

The full report is available for download here.

For continued updates and to access GHLF’s vaccine content, visit: https://ghlf.org/vaccine-resources/

About GHLF

The Global Healthy Living Foundation is a U.S. based, 501(c)(3) nonprofit, international organization whose mission is to improve the quality of life for people with chronic illnesses by advocating for improved access to health care through education, patient-centered clinical research, support, advocacy, and economic and policy research. GHLF is also a staunch advocate for vaccines. The Global Healthy Living Foundation is the parent organization of CreakyJoints®, the international, digital community for millions of people living with arthritis and their supporters worldwide who seek education, support, activism, and patient-centered research in English, Spanish, and French. In addition to arthritis and autoimmune disorders, GHLF supports dermatology, gastroenterology, neurology, cardiology, oncology, infectious disease, rare disease, and pulmonary patients through a host of different programs and activities which draw more than 700,000 patients a month to GHLF websites and create more than 10 million impressions a month on seven social media platforms. In 2024, GHLF had more than 1 million views and listens with its patient-centered audio-visual content, found on YouTube and podcast platforms. GHLF never asks the public for donations, receiving funding instead through governments, non-governmental organizations, foundations, industry, family foundations, and GHLF Co-Founder Louis Tharp. Visit www.ghlf.org for more information.

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SOURCE: Global Healthy Living Foundation

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PUB: 09/26/2025 11:45 AM/DISC: 09/26/2025 11:44 AM

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