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Health Services Provision

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 February 2021

Thursday, 4 February 2021

Questions (200)

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill

Question:

200. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Health his plans to expand PrEP services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6066/21]

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Written answers

The development and implementation of a national programme of Pre- Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) was a landmark development in realising the strategic vision of the National Sexual Health Strategy 2015 - 2020, which was to improve sexual health and wellbeing and reduce negative sexual health outcomes by ensuring that everyone living in Ireland has access to high quality sexual health information, education and services throughout their lives.

It had been envisaged that the Department of Health and the HSE Sexual Health Crisis Pregnancy Programme would, in 2020, review the position with regard to the future direction of the Strategy which would include the future direction of clinical services including PrEP. However, it was necessary to postpone this work due to the urgent need to mobilise and prioritise resources in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

It is the intention of this Department that the review of the NSHS will take place as soon as possible in 2021. While the outcome of this review will determine the future direction of the Strategy, it will also be necessary to ensure that any remaining work items arising from the current Strategy continue to be implemented.

In light of this, officials from my Department recently wrote to the Interim Programme Lead for the HSE SHCPP, suggesting that we extend the lifetime of the current NSHS to the end of 2021, and requesting that the HSE take any necessary measures to incorporate this into the service planning process.

Consultation with the relevant stakeholders will be carried out in the course of the review process.

With regard to the current position in relation to PrEP services, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

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