Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 December 2020
441. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the counties in which PrEP is currently available; the steps he will take to ensure universal access for those for whom it is recommended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42776/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraSexual health is a priority for my Department, as evidenced by the publication of the National Sexual Health Strategy 2015 - 2020. Significant progress has been made in the implementation of the Strategy’s key aims of reducing negative sexual health outcomes for everyone living in Ireland. Implementation of the Strategy is led by the HSE’s Sexual Health and Crisis Pregnancy Programme (SHCPP).
A key initiative under the Strategy was the provision of €5.4m funding for the establishment of a national programme of PrEP in 2019. This has been progressed, although the COVID-19 pandemic has led to interruptions to normal healthcare activity, with most services affected, including those providing PrEP.
Virtual clinics are held where possible, with attendance in person limited to appointment only. Service restrictions are predominantly due to social distancing requirements; waiting rooms can now only hold a fraction of patients compared to before the pandemic.
Phone lines, the GMHS website and other resources such as man2man.ie and sexual wellbeing.ie are regularly updated to reflect current service delivery and to signpost users to the HSE list of approved PrEP services.
Although services have been subject to some Covid-19 related restrictions, the PrEP programme has continued to expand and over 2,000 individuals, mostly gay men, are currently registered on the national PrEP programme.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
