Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 February 2017
487. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the measures he is taking to support the use of the combination of the drugs emtricitabine and tenofovir for pre-exposure prophylaxis as part of a comprehensive prevention strategy in respect of HIV infection (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8648/17]
View answerThe 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. Any decision concerning the availability of PrEP will be made following the completion of this work.
