Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 January 2017
232. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on eligibility criteria and guidelines for pre-exposure prophylaxis to be defined by the national sexual health strategy, either listed criteria or a release date for when the criteria will be released; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3448/17]
View answer233. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the details of the implementation group for the national sexual health strategy specifically pertaining to making pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) available; the persons on the implementation group; the frequency they meet; the timeframe to their objective regarding PrEP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3449/17]
View answer234. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the details of the demonstration project testing pre-exposure prophylaxis; the timeframe for same; the number of participants that will be involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3450/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 232 to 234, inclusive, together.
The National Sexual Health Strategy 2015-2020 was launched in October 2015. The strategy was developed in response to a recommendation of the National AIDS Strategy Committee on the need to establish clear leadership within the health sector around the area of sexual health. The Strategy contains 71 recommendations that address all aspects of sexual health and a Sexual Health Action Plan for 2015-2016 that contains 18 priority actions for immediate attention.
One of the priority actions identified in the Action Plan for 2016 is to 'Prioritise, develop and implement guidance to support clinical decision making for STI testing, screening and treatment and on the appropriate use of antiretroviral therapy in HIV prevention’. An Implementation Group has now been established within the HSE as an outcome of this action. This group will make recommendations on the appropriate use of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in the overall context of the national approach to HIV prevention.
As the matters referred are service issues, these questions have been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
