HIV ‘game-changer’ now on NHS
by James Gallagher, BBC:
A drug that dramatically reduces the risk of being infected with HIV will now be given to patients by the NHS in England.
The health service lost a court battle in the summer after arguing responsibility for paying for it should fall to local authorities not the NHS.
Now at least 10,000 people will be given the “Prep” drug in a three-year-long clinical trial.
NHS England says this will help them understand how to offer it more widely.
Pre-exposure prophylaxis or Prep is a daily pill that disables HIV before it gets a stranglehold in the body.
It costs £400 a month per person and trials suggest it can cut the risk of being infected by up to 86%.
NHS England, which fought not to offer the drug, said in a statement there was “strong” evidence that it was effective.
However, it said there were still questions to be answered about how it is used on a wide scale across England.
Read also: Thousands of men will be able to trial HIV-prevention drugs on the NHS from next year – PinkNews
People at risk of HIV to get ‘game-changer’ prevention treatment – Times (£)
NHS forks out £10million on trial of lifestyle pill to prevent HIV – Mail
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