Prime Minister David Cameron has told the House of Commons that he wants NHS England to make a decision on funding Pre Exposure Prophylaxis PrEP Drugs on the National Health Service.
During his Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) today, David Cameron told the House Of Commons that he wanted a decision from NHS England this month on whether they would fund PrEP, a game changing anti-HIV drug, that has had incredible results in stopping new HIV infections.
The PM said that he recognised the growing rate of HIV in the UK and that he was pressing for a decision about the service’s ability to offer the PrEP drugs to those most at risk of contracting HIV.
During his PMQs MP Mike Freer asked,
“HIV infection rates are on the rise. NHS England has refused to fund Pre Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) drugs. Will he meet with me and leading charities to review?”
Responding, David Cameron said,
“NHS England is reconsidering this, I want them to make a decision this month. I recognise the growing rate of HIV in this country. I’ll make sure he gets the meetings he needs.”
NHS England said that it would continue to pay for PEP, a treatment that can prevent HIV infection after the virus has entered a person’s body, but has fallen short from offering PrEP.
Ian Green, CEO at Terrence Higgins Trust, welcomed the statement saying,
“We welcome David Cameron committing NHS England to making a long overdue decision on HIV prevention game changer, PrEP, this month. Thank you to Mike Freer for continuing to champion this life changing HIV prevention tool.
“We urgently need NHS England to make PrEP available for those most at risk. Every day this is delayed, seven men who have sex with men are infected with HIV.”
