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UK Wedding News

07/06/2016

Charity To Take PrEP Drug Decision To Court

A charity has said it has been left with no choice but to seek a judicial review into NHS England's refusal to fund a drug treatment that can prevent HIV.

The treatment, known as PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis), is a daily tablet that can lower a person's chances of catching HIV. If taken correctly, it is thought it is almost entirely effective in preventing HIV.

However, while NHS England has promised £2m in funding to treat around 500 people with PrEP over the next two years, last month it issued a statement saying it does not believe it should be the body responsible for offering the drug. Rather, the NHS argues that local authorities should be the "responsible commissioner" for HIV prevention services.

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The National Aids Trust (NAT) has described the drug as "potentially life-changing".

Following NHS England's decision, Deborah Gold, Chief Executive, NAT, said: "NHS England is sitting on something that could be the beginning of the end for the HIV epidemic – if only it were made available. The refusal to commission it for all those at significant risk is astonishing.

"Seventeen people are being diagnosed with HIV every day. We are extremely disappointed and we will now be looking at our options, including further legal action."

Now, in a letter published in the British Medical Journal, Ms Gold said: "Faced with this impasse, NAT has no choice but to take the matter before a court for judicial review."

The NHS in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have not yet made a decision regarding the treatment.

(JP/MH)

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"A charity has said it has been left with no choice but to seek a judicial review into NHS England's refusal to fund a drug treatment that can prevent HIV."