Despite Horgan’s pre-election endorsement, free PrEP isn’t coming any time soon
The BC government is putting the brakes on a pre-election endorsement of free pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) drugs.
In a statement to Xtra, the BC Ministry of Health says it will not be rolling out coverage of the HIV-prevention drugs anytime soon, despite a January 2017 interview in which now-premier John Horgan said it was a “mystery” why PrEP wasn’t already covered.
Experts on HIV care in the province say the delay will guarantee more British Columbians will be infected with HIV, especially young gay men.
In years of studies, PrEP has been shown to be highly effective and safe as a prevention measure against HIV transmission, and has been key to dramatic drops in HIV transmission in cities where it is widely and cheaply available, such as San Francisco and New York.
…
“As a new government, it will take some time, but we are committed to enhancing evidence-informed decision making for new and existing drugs, in relation to coverage decisions. Recognizing that PrEP has the potential to make a very positive impact on the lives of British Columbians, Truvada for PrEP is currently being reviewed by the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS in collaboration with the Ministry of Health.”
The Ministry of Health statement goes on to point out that the inter-provincial body responsible for deciding how provinces pay for drugs approved the PrEP drug Truvada on the condition that its manufacturer drop its price.