WIREDGOV

Cllr Izzi Seccombe, Community Wellbeing spokesperson for the Local Government Association, responded to the announcement by NHS England that it does not have the power to commission the new HIV treatment PrEP

"This is hugely disappointing and a missed opportunity to launch a ground-breaking method of treatment which could halt the spread of HIV and potentially save lives.

"Councils have invested millions in providing sexual health services since taking over responsibility for public health three years ago, and the PrEP treatment could help reduce levels of HIV in the community.

"During the transition period to the implementation of the NHS and Care Act 2010, NHS England sought to retain commissioning of HIV therapeutics, which the PrEP treatment clearly falls into.  It is, and should remain, an NHS responsibility unless it is fully funded for local authorities to pass on.

"Councils are already having to manage significant funding reductions to their public health budgets of £500 million over five years and NHS England's decision not to commission PrEP will only heap more pressure on public health services."

Notes

Government announced a 9.7 per cent reduction in public health funding between 2016/17 and 2020/21 – which in cash terms is more than £330 million. On top of this was a further £200 million cut in-year in 2015/16.

Related information:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/2016/05/prep-provision/