The dream that HIV and AIDS can be cured in our lifetime is getting closer to being a reality as every day passes. England’s Nations Health Services (NHS) is set to make available pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in April as it speeds up efforts to reduce new HIV infections.
PrEP is a drug that is used to prevent the contracting of HIV from an infected person. The drug stops the transmission only and will not cure someone who has already contracted HIV.
The pill is already being administered in Scotland and Whales to people who are at high risk of contracting. The health services body will assess the riskiness of each recipient off the medicine as it is in short supply. For example, risky people are spouses off people living with HIV and Aids.
The total figure of people living with HIV in the UK is just above one hundred thousand. England’s Health department is optimistic that the drug will eliminate new infections. The country is moving towards a zero new infections policy and the drug among other measures will enable them to realise the dream.
England’s health Secretary Matt Hancock said the roll-out of the drug in England would eliminate new HIV infections within 10 years.
Cost of the drug
The drug will be administered freely for those identified to be in risky situations and it will be free. The government will pay for the drug. Drugs such as PrEP are considered as essential in England and the government sees it noble to give it for free. Health is a basic necessity.
Another rationale used to arrive at the decision to give the drug for free is that is costs close to the same as treating someone who would have contracted the disease hence it is better to prevent the transmission than to treat the disease.
It is estimated that 7% of the 100 thousand people who live with HIV do not know that they have the virus. Efforts to ensure mandatory HIV testing were intensified but it has proved no to be enough. It is only possible to end the HIV infections only if all people are being tested.