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Legal threat causes NHS England to rethink PrEP access to prevent HIV

By: .

Simon Collins, HIV i-Base

PrEP scales

Optimistic news suggests that UK access to PrEP may still be considerd in June, following a threat of legal action against NHS England for their decision terminate public discussion on a stakeholder report that had recommended approval.

On 19 April 2016, the National AIDS Trust issued a press release outlining that the treat of legal action has already has already resulted in NHS England reversing their recent change of policy. [1]

Of note, the legal challenge demands clarification for the proposal that NHS England would fund a small evaluation project that would provide PrEP to around 500 people. [2]

This is clearly nonsense given that the Medical Research Council (MRC) had already supported, planned and run such a study – called PROUD – that reported high effectiveness in October 2014 – more than 18 months ago. [3]

A community petition for this to be raised in Parliament includes more than 12,000 signatures – but more are still needed. [4]

For full details see the NAT press statement and details correspondence outlining the case against NHS England.

References

  1. NAT press release. The NHS will now consider putting PrEP back into the NHS decision-making process following the threat of legal action from the National AIDS Trust (NAT). (19 April 2016).
    http://www.nat.org.uk/Media-and-Blog/Press-Releases/2016/April/NHS_will_reconsider_PrEP_decision.aspx
  2. NAT letter to NHS England. (12 April 2016).
    http://www.nat.org.uk/media/Files/Policy/2016/NAT_to_NHS_England.pdf
  3. UK PROUD study to provide PrEP to all participants earlier than expected: planned follow-up to continue to two years. HTB November/December 2014.
    https://i-base.info/htb/27593
  4. Sign-on for PrEP to be raised in Parliament (23 March 2016).
    https://i-base.info/sign-on-for-prep-to-be-raised-in-parliament

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