Men told they have HIV as they wait for drug which blocks virus
SEVERAL men in Manchester have been diagnosed with HIV while waiting to access a drugs trial which dramatically lowers the risk of contracting the virus, Parliament has been told.
Shadow health minister Sharon Hodgson said the figures were ‘likely to be just the tip of the iceberg.’
She was speaking as MPs criticised the government over the state of access to the pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) drug. The drug, taken by HIV-negative people before sex, acts as a barrier and blocks infection.
It’s currently available in England as part of a trial.
But Ms Hodgson said that data from the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV has shown nine gay and bisexual men in Greater Manchester
were ‘diagnosed with HIV while waiting to access the PrEP trial.’
She said this was ‘totally unacceptable and goes against the Government’s own commitment to eradicate HIV by 2030.’
And Ms Hodgson called on PrEP to be routinely commissioned before the trial ends in September 2020.
Labour MP Neil Coyle said men have contracted HIV ‘as a direct result’ of the Government’s failings over the PrEP trial.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the switch to routine commissioning will start in April.
He added: “It’s a deep frustration of mine that some local authorities are not putting in the measures they need to put in place.
“I’ll look into Manchester, in particular. I didn’t know about that example.
”I personally set the goal of being HIV-free by 2030.”