Almost everyone from the United Kingdom who is at risk of the HIV infection can claim drugs that keep them safe if the Liberal Democrats get approved, they promised.
What is PrEP?
PrEP means pre-exposure prophylaxis. It is a pill that is taken every day prior to having sex to avoid HIV infection. If taken often, when a condom is not being used, and someone makes contact with HIV, the body cells are protected and invalidate the virus to keep it from multiplying.
According to a study from a United Kingdom (UK) Medical Research Council, they made a comparison of gay men on PrEP with non-users and found 86% fall in new HIV infections in PrEP users.
Many from the sexual health department state that when a PrEP is correctly taken, it is almost 100% effective.
On a side note, it is normally focused on men who have sexual intercourse with men without using condoms as well as others who are at a high-risk.
Access to PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) has always been an issue—the pill has been shown to the public to provide complete protection from HIV infection. It is now available for partners who have HIV, especially in Scotland and Northern Ireland, but not technically in England.
PrEP Impact Trial
National Health Service (NHS) England took legal action to lower the drug costs on to the public. Unfortunately, they lost. Last 2017, it set up a trial, which means there is a big chance that cheaper versions of the drug could be given away to over 10,000 participants.
Unfortunately, there have been reports circulating that people have a hard time to take place on trial—and experts from the sexual health department are more than aware of cases from men who have the HIV condition.
This year, NHS England pledges that they will double the numbers to 20,000—but the trial does not end until 2020, and there is no written agreement to be based on how it will continue.
Luciana Berger, the Liberal Democrat health spokeswoman, stated that "Fifteen people in the last year have tested positive for HIV while waiting to get access to PrEP. That is 15 people who should not have to be living with HIV right now. It is totally unacceptable."
"Despite the clear evidence that PrEP is an effective way to prevent HIV, the Conservatives have continually buried their heads in the sand. For years the Liberal Democrats have been calling on the Conservatives to extend PrEP to everyone who needs it in England. But the Tories do not appear to care. They haven't even bothered to mention PrEP or HIV in their manifesto."
"The Liberal Democrats will end this injustice. As part of our plan to build a brighter future we will ensure that anyone who needs PrEP in England will be able to access it for free."
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