(Picture: Getty)

It’s official, the NHS won’t fund a drug that stops people getting HIV.

It says it’s up to local authorities (ie the council) to deal with HIV prevention.

Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, known as Prep, can cut people’s chances of catching HIV by up to 99 percent, if taken daily.

But the NHS say it is not their responsibility to provide it.

According to The Terrence Higgins Trust there are more people living with HIV in the UK than ever before.

We are suffering the worst HIV epidemic of any large country in western Europe, with around 103,700 people living with HIV.

I’m bisexual, and currently dating a woman. But if I ever find myself single again I would take Prep in a second.

Can you imagine when the Aids epidemic was rife in the 80s if someone turned around and said ‘in the future they will have a magic pill to stop people catching this but the health services won’t fund it’?


We all pay money from our taxes into a public health service to help us in our times of need.

A gay man has no use for the contraceptive pill or midwives, yet his taxes are spent on them.

Prep is something the gay and bisexual community need to prevent an infection that has been plaguing them (and, indeed, the whole of society) for decades.

Also, it costs far more to treat people who have HIV than it would to give the most at risk people Prep.

Open any gay magazine and you’ll see adverts or articles warning about the dangers of HIV and unprotected sex.

Open Grinder and you get two messages about HIV and regular testing a day.

Go to any gay club and notice the jar of free condoms.

Condoms aren’t enough – women use the pill together with condoms to stay safe – is this really so different? (Picture: Getty)

We have made such an effort to combat this issue and it is slowly paying off.

We’ve done all we can and now it’s time for the NHS to pull its weight.

Now there is a magic pill and it’s being withheld from us, it’s a slap in the face.

There’s a lot of debate on the subject so here’s my replies to some common questions on Prep.

Why don’t you just use a condom?

If you don’t know that condoms can break and tear you need to stop having sex immediately because you are a danger to yourself and others.


Condoms are not 100% effective, that’s why an extra layer of protection is so important.

Even the most careful people can have slip ups, especially when alcohol’s involved.

But the truth is sex shouldn’t result in a death sentence for anyone.

Why not just stop having sex?

Why not just stop eating? If you honestly think telling people to not have sex is the answer to ending the HIV problem you’re not mature enough to be involved in this debate.

Won’t this make people have more bareback sex and make STIs more rife?

Some people may abuse it but that shouldn’t mean responsible people should suffer.

Women have the contraceptive pill – has Durex gone into administration? No, because people understand the importance of safe sex.

Is it even the NHS’s responsibility?

Technically no, the NHS is there to cure us not prevent us from getting ill which is the excuse they have used to get out of this issue.

Now look at your upper left arm, you seen that tiny scar where you had your your TB vaccine? That was a preventative measure. It’s true of all the vaccines you’ve had that you didn’t pay for.

If you want it so much can’t you just buy it yourself?

Prep (Truvada) costs £44 a month. So, no – not everyone can afford that.

And this is such an important issue.

For many people, especially men who have sex with men, the thought of HIV is exhausting and a never-ending fear.

Prep could help stop the spread of the virus – in not funding it, surely this is the NHS’ most irresponsible decision yet.