Press Release – Commitments on Action Plan for HIV, PrEP accessibility welcomed by HIV Ireland

Speaking following publication of the document, Executive Director of HIV Ireland Mr Stephen O’Hare said:

Reflecting on the time available for the incoming Government to achieve its goal by the end of the decade, Mr O’Hare said “From this moment forward, no time should be wasted. Recent data indicates that in many areas relating to treatment and medication adherence Ireland is making good progress, but recent sharp increases in newly notified cases of HIV means we must redouble our efforts to ensure Ireland maintains the necessary momentum in identifying new or previously undetected cases.”

The commitment to increase availability and reduce waiting times for PrEP is crucial to ending HIV transmission,” continued Mr O’Hare. “New thinking and new partnerships will undoubtedly form part of a strategy to boost PrEP access,” he said.  “However, without additional means to prescribe and monitor PrEP uptake, it is unlikely that sufficient progress will be made,” he cautioned. “Increased resources, improved availability across both urban and rural communities, and a role for primary care should all form part of the approach”, he added.

The programme also commits the incoming Government to support people living with HIV. It is estimated that there is anywhere between 8,000 and 10,000 people living with HIV in Ireland, with numbers difficult to quantify.

“While the vast majority of people living with HIV in Ireland are on effective treatment, and cannot pass on HIV to a sexual partner, that is just one aspect of what it means to live with this condition,” said Mr O’Hare. “At a minimum, supports must be orientated towards ensuring that people living with HIV enjoy wide ranging, barrier-free access to health and wellbeing supports, including mental health supports,” continued Mr O’Hare. “After all, no one living with HIV should have to endure stigma or shame, imposed by society and often internalised as self-stigma, simply for living with a treatable, manageable health condition,” he added.