The UK Government has now made PrEP available for free across England – but many gay and bi men will still struggle to get it.
Pilot projects have found the drug is highly effective in cutting HIV transmission. But the government refused to fund it for years. And now it has announced the funding just days before the scheme is due to start.
The announcement followed months of delays. Experts expected free PrEP to start on 1 April but it should now start from 1 October.
Those delays in making the funding available have undermined clinics readiness for actually making the drug available.
The National Health Service is funding the tablets. But it is up to local authorities to pay for the essential tests before people can start taking it and run outreach work to encourage people to consider PrEP.
With no guarantee if and when the funding would start, some local councils have been reluctant to make preparations. Indeed, some are so distrustful of the Department of Health as a funder that they didn’t want to rely on promises from Health Secretary Matt Hancock.
As a result, people who ask for PrEP at their local sexual health clinic this week may not be able to get it.
GSN understands some authorities are ready – good examples include Bristol and parts, though not all, of London. However other areas, including those with large LGBT+ communities such as Manchester, are apparently less prepared.