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10/10/2019
Taoiseach Announces Start Date For HIV PrEP
An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Minister for Health Simon Harris and Minister for Health Promotion Catherine Byrne have announced a HIV PrEP programme to begin next month.
The programme will initially be provided in a number of STI clinics from November and will expand in 2020, following the announcement of funding of €5.4 million for full roll-out next year in Budget 2020.
A PrEP programme involves the pre-emptive use of antiretroviral medication to prevent HIV infection, within a holistic prevention service. It involves regular monitoring and testing, as well as advice and counselling on safer sex practices.
Taoiseach Varadkar said the programme will reduce the numbers of people who contract HIV.
He commented: "I thank the advocacy groups like HIV Ireland and the LGBT NGOs who have worked with us to get to this point, and the HSE team who have put the necessary standards and guidelines in place to deliver a safe, quality service."
Similar programmes have recently been introduced in a number of countries.
PrEP will be available free of charge for those attending approved services who are at risk of HIV and meet the eligibility criteria.
A recent Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) report found the scheme to be a safe and effective way of preventing HIV, as well as being cost-saving.
Dr Fiona Lyons, Consultant in Genitourinary and HIV Medicine at St. James's Hospital said: "I welcome the imminent availability of PrEP medication, without charge, to those who are at substantial risk of acquiring HIV through sexual contact.
"PrEP is an important part of the HIV prevention jigsaw puzzle that, together with other HIV prevention interventions, should reduce the number of new HIV infections in Ireland. I also welcome the announcement by Government of the roll out of a PrEP programme which includes resources to support services to implement PrEP. This is crucial to successful PrEP implementation. I would like to thank everyone who has worked so hard to make this happen."
(JG/CM)
The programme will initially be provided in a number of STI clinics from November and will expand in 2020, following the announcement of funding of €5.4 million for full roll-out next year in Budget 2020.
A PrEP programme involves the pre-emptive use of antiretroviral medication to prevent HIV infection, within a holistic prevention service. It involves regular monitoring and testing, as well as advice and counselling on safer sex practices.
Taoiseach Varadkar said the programme will reduce the numbers of people who contract HIV.
He commented: "I thank the advocacy groups like HIV Ireland and the LGBT NGOs who have worked with us to get to this point, and the HSE team who have put the necessary standards and guidelines in place to deliver a safe, quality service."
Similar programmes have recently been introduced in a number of countries.
PrEP will be available free of charge for those attending approved services who are at risk of HIV and meet the eligibility criteria.
A recent Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) report found the scheme to be a safe and effective way of preventing HIV, as well as being cost-saving.
Dr Fiona Lyons, Consultant in Genitourinary and HIV Medicine at St. James's Hospital said: "I welcome the imminent availability of PrEP medication, without charge, to those who are at substantial risk of acquiring HIV through sexual contact.
"PrEP is an important part of the HIV prevention jigsaw puzzle that, together with other HIV prevention interventions, should reduce the number of new HIV infections in Ireland. I also welcome the announcement by Government of the roll out of a PrEP programme which includes resources to support services to implement PrEP. This is crucial to successful PrEP implementation. I would like to thank everyone who has worked so hard to make this happen."
(JG/CM)
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