HIV-preventative drug will be available free from next month

A RESEARCHER has said the HIV-preventative drug PrEP, available here free from the start of next month, could mean ‘a sea change’ for tackling the epidemic in Ireland.

Dr Paddy Mallon, professor of microbial diseases in UCD and consultant in St Vincent’s Hospital, said the significant move is key to the HIV prevention programme.

The programme will be rolled out across a number of STI clinics from November 4 and will expand next year.

It comes following the €5.4million funding commitment included in Budget 2020.

The announcement was made by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Minister for Health Simon Harris and Minister for Health Promotion Catherine Byrne yesterday.

In June, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) published a report which found that PrEP is safe and effective at preventing HIV in people at substantial risk.

The new programme means that those who attend an approved service and are found to be at substantial risk for HIV will be eligible for PrEP at no cost.

The programme includes frequent monitoring for adherence and side effects, testing for HIV and other STIs, and counselling and advice on safe sex.

Dr Mallon, who is also on the board of HIV Ireland, said: ‘It’s a really big sea change in terms of being able to control the epidemic and it also puts that power to stop getting HIV in the hands of people who are at risk.’

Mr Varadkar said: ‘The introduction of a PrEP programme here will reduce the number of people who contract HIV in future. It’s great that we are starting the PrEP programme this year as promised, with funding now in place for a wider programme next year.

‘PrEP is just one element of our response to reducing HIV rates; we’ve also prioritised increasing awareness and HIV testing. With this combined approach we reach the people we need to reach and bring down HIV rates.’