Court rules on PrEP HIV drug

A High Court judge has ruled that NHS England can fund a preventative drug that can be used to combat HIV, after health bosses previously argued the responsibility did not lie with the NHS.

NHS England had initially decided that local authorities should be responsible for providing the pre-exposure prophylaxis drug (PrEP). However, the move was opposed by the National Aids Trust (NAT).

Prep has been shown to reduce the risk of HIV infection by more than 90 per cent, and costs £400 per month per person to manufacture. The medication is currently in use in America, Canada, Australia and France to help homosexual men who are most at risk from the virus.

According to NHS England, Prep is preventative and had had legal advice claiming that ‘local authorities are the responsible commissioner for HIV prevention services’.

In an interview with the BBC, Paul Steinberg, from the London HIV Prevention Programme, argued that while the drug was a significant breakthrough, it was still important for people to wear protection in order to stay safe.

He added: “Buying online is what people are being forced to do to get access to this drug, but that's not a sustainable situation.”

Deborah Gold, chief executive of NAT, said: "This is fantastic news. It is vindication for the many people who were let down when NHS England absolved itself of responsibility for PrEP."

Meanwhile a spokesperson for NHS England said: "NHS England has considered the judgement carefully and has taken legal advice. Queen's Counsel has advised that the court's ruling interprets the legislation governing NHS England's role and functions in a way that is inconsistent with Parliament's intention."