Press Release, 23rd April 2019: Way now firmly open for crucial HIV Prevention Programme in Ireland

HIV Ireland has welcomed the publication of HIQA’s draft PrEP Health Technology Assessment (HTA), and is now urging the Government to proceed quickly with Ireland’s first PrEP Programme once the public consultation process on this report is completed in May.

Speaking after the report’s release, Niall Mulligan, Executive Director of HIV Ireland stated “The Taoiseach and his Government are to be thanked for accepting, and fully supporting the efficacy, and the need for PrEP in Ireland. A fully funded PrEP Programme is a crucial intervention to adopt in order to reverse the current upward trend in new HIV diagnoses. With ten people being newly diagnosed with HIV in Ireland every week, any delay in introducing this programme will have a devastating impact on many people’s lives. Now is the time to act, and act fast”.

The report confirms PrEP to be safe, and highly effective at preventing HIV in people at substantial risk. It clearly finds that the introduction of a PrEP programme would be cost-saving.

For information about HIV, testing, safer sex and support please visit – www.hivireland.ie; www.man2man.ie; www.positivenow.ie

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For further information please contact:

Niall Mulligan,

Executive Director

HIV Ireland

70 Eccles Street

Dublin 7

Mobile:  085 7457951

Tel: 01 8733799

Email: niall.mulligan@hivireland.ie