Alan Farrell
Ceist:55. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the use of home STI testing kits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1442/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 18 January 2024
Ceisteanna (55)
Freagraí scríofa
Following a successful initial pilot in Cork, Kerry and Dublin, funded by the Sláintecare Integration Fund in 2021, the free home STI testing service was gradually expanded in 2021-2022, and launched nationally in October, 2022. €3.5m was allocated to support the scheme in 2023
The scheme has been very successful, adding approximately 33% to national testing capacity. Additional funding of €720,000 to support increasing demand for the scheme has been allocated through Budget 2024, bringing funding this year to €4.22m.
In 2022, through the home STI testing service, 91,123 STI test kits were dispatched, with 4,121 cases of chlamydia and 933 cases of gonorrhoea identified through the service, accounting for approximately 38% and 23% of the notifications for these infections respectively. Preliminary figures for 2023 indicate that just under 110,000 kits were dispatched.
The scheme is reaching many who may have been reluctant to visit STI clinics in person, with more STIs being detected and treated. Approximately 10% of service users are experiencing reactive results. Those receiving reactive results are referred to an in-person STI clinic for confirmational testing, and treatment if required. Since late 2023, on a pilot basis, users with a positive chlamydia result are offered the option of an online assessment and prescription to a community pharmacy of their choice or referred to a participating clinical service for the appropriate follow up and clinical management.
The National Condom Distribution Scheme supports both STI prevention and accessible contraception for men and their partners. Free condoms can be accessed through the national network of STI clinics, participating charity and NGO partners and on participating 3rd level campuses. Since 2023, free condoms have also been supplied with orders for free home STI testing kits.
Whilst STIs are usually easily treatable when detected early, many STIs can cause serious health issues, if undetected and untreated for longer periods of time. STIs are often asymptomatic. The key prevention messages are to use condoms for vaginal, oral and anal sex, and to get tested if experiencing possible STI symptoms, when changing sexual partners, in the event of having multiple, sequential or overlapping partners or if a partner (or former partner) has been diagnosed with an STI.
The ongoing nationwide STI prevention campaign, through www.sexualwellbeing.ie, promotes condom use and free home STI testing alongside a range of other messages supporting positive sexual health and information on how to access testing, treatment, contraception and other related sexual health services. The Health Protection Surveillance Centre provides weekly and annual reports on rates of STI infection nationally, available through www.hpsc.ie/.