The NHS has agreed to fund the trial and rollout of 'game-changing' drug that reduces the risk of HIV infection.
NHS England has announced a ‘major extension’ of the national HIV prevention programme which will be led by Public Health England.
This will involve the national health service funding the provision of anti-retroviral drugs for the prevention of HIV, known as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).
The NHS initially insisted councils should pay for PrEP. They argued responsibility for public health, including HIV prevention, had been passed to local authorities.
The Local Government Association (LGA) rejected this argument and responded NHS England had retained responsibility for the commissioning of HIV therapeutics.
After a court case and an appeal ruled against the NHS, the national health service has agreed to fund PrEP.
‘We’re pleased to be able to announce funding not only for ten new specialised treatments but also a new ground breaking national programme for PrEP that will benefit at least 10,000 people,’ said Dr Jonathan Fielden, director of specialised commissioning and deputy national medical director, NHS England.
‘This has, in part, been made possible by the willingness of many pharmaceutical and device companies to come forward with lower and more responsible prices. Continuing this constructive joint working will enable us to fund more new drugs and treatments in the future.
‘We have however, had to make some tough decisions over what we are not able to fund at this point in time within the resources we have available. We will ensure those treatments have the opportunity to be considered as part of the next annual prioritisation round in spring 2017.’
Cllr Izzi Seccombe, chairman of the LGA’s community wellbeing board, welcomed the decision.
‘We are pleased that NHS England has acted quickly and chosen to fund the commissioning of this trial and rollout of PrEP. We now want to stand united with the NHS to defeat the spread of HIV,’ she said.
‘PrEP is a ground-breaking method of treatment that has the potential to save lives and councils want to work with the NHS to help roll out the trial.
‘Local authorities have invested millions in providing sexual health services since taking over responsibility for public health three years ago, and we firmly believe that PrEP could significantly reduce levels of HIV in the community.’
The National Aids Trust (NAT), the charity responsible for bringing the court case against the NHS, also welcomed the health service’s announcement.
‘We are absolutely delighted that following our wins in Court, NHS England, working with Public Health England and local government will be now making PrEP available on a large scale, and quickly, to those who need it,’ said NAT chief executive Deborah Gold.
‘We continue to seek reassurance that access to PrEP will not be unduly limited by geography, that routine commissioning will continue seamlessly at the end of the trial and that all those expected to be eligible through routine commissioning will be able to access PrEP via the trial.
‘Despite these outstanding questions, there is no doubt that this step in the right direction has the potential to have a transformative impact for thousands of people, as well as prove the decisive point in beginning to combat the HIV crisis, all whilst saving the NHS money in the long term.
‘We are looking forward to working alongside NHS England, Public Health England and local authorities with the simple shared aim of reducing new HIV infections.’
