Scotland ‘makes history’ in battle to prevent HIV

Scotland has become the first part of the UK to make a controversial drug which aims to prevent HIV available on the NHS.

The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has approved the treatment PrEP, which has been shown to reduce the risk of infection in people who are at high risk by more than 90%.

Campaigners who had called for the drug to be made available hailed the SMC for “taking this bold step”, saying the medicine is a “vital opportunity” to reduce the number of new HIV cases.

SMC chairman Dr Alan MacDonald said the drug “when used together with safer sex practices may help to reduce the spread of HIV, which is an ongoing priority for the Scottish Government”.

In England, the NHS has announced a large-scale clinical trial of the drug, which has the brand name Truvada, in 2017-18.

Charities HIV Scotland, the Terrence Higgins Trust Scotland, Waverley Care and NAT (National Aids Trust) had joined together to campaign for the drug to be made available in the PrEP4Scotland Coalition.

A statement from the group said: “We applaud the SMC for taking this bold step to tackling HIV in Scotland.

“PrEP provides opportunities to reinvigorate how people at higher risk of HIV exposure engage with testing and prevention opportunities, and it is a vital opportunity to make a real reduction in the number of new HIV transmissions.”

George Valiotis, chief executive of HIV Scotland, added the drug would be “an essential addition to Scotland’s HIV prevention approach”.

Robert McKay, national director for the Terrence Higgins Trust Scotland, said: “Today, Scotland has made history in the fight against the HIV epidemic.

“Not only will this make a life-changing difference to individuals by protecting them from a lifelong and stigmatised condition, but for every person who would have become HIV positive without PrEP, NHS Scotland will save £360,000 in lifetime treatment costs.”

Gordon Garioch, 53, from Aberdeen, is currently taking a generic version of the drug which he buys online.

He said: “Taking PrEP has allowed me to take control of my sexual health, and therefore both my physical and mental health. I feel by taking PrEP I am being responsible to myself, but I am also being responsible to my sexual partners.”