BASHH welcomes funding for major extension of PrEP implementation in England

The British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH) have welcomed NHS England’s announcement of a ‘major extension’ for the implementation of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) implementation in England.

The new programme will make funding available for at least 10,000 people at high risk of HIV infection over the next 3 years, and its findings will help to inform a wider national rollout. The announcement of this new joint initiative between NHS England and Public Health England follows a recent Court of Appeal ruling confirming that power for the delivery of HIV prevention rests with NHS England, alongside local authorities.

BASHH wholeheartedly welcomes this step towards improving HIV prevention in England. When 17 people are diagnosed with HIV in England per day, this trial cannot start soon enough. We recognise that there is still a lot of work to be done, and collaboration between NHS England, Public Health England and local authorities will be required to make it a reality.

Commenting on the announcement, BASHH President Elizabeth Carlin said:

“This is an exciting and long-awaited development with regards to HIV prevention in England. We know that PrEP is a highly effective prevention tool and will have an impact on reducing new HIV diagnoses. I want to recognise all the hard work there has been to date from NHS England, Public Health England, the community sector and PrEP advocacy groups. Sexual health clinicians across England are ready to make this happen.”

The NHS England statement is available online here.