Legal ruling states PrEP can be funded on NHS

A landmark ruling from the High Court has deemed NHS England had the legal power to commission a pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) service to protect people from contracting HIV.

Mr Justice Green ruled in favour of a challenge brought by the National Aids Trust arguing against NHS England's contention that it did not have the power to commission the service, and that the decision should be a matter for local authorities to decide.

The PrEP measure is designed to prevent HIV transmission, particularly for men who have high-risk condomless sex with multiple male partners. Drugs such as Gilead's Truvada have been shown to be effective for this purpose.

NHS England has contested that preventative measures of this kind are not within the boundaries of its responsibility, but now that the High Court has ruled otherwise, the organisation will consider its options, including the prospect of an appeal.

National Aids Trust chief executive Deborah Gold said: "PrEP works. It saves money and it will make an enormous difference to the lives of men and women across the country who are at risk of acquiring HIV. The delay to commissioning PrEP is both unethical and expensive."

Further conversations will also take place between NHS England and Gilead to see if the company is willing to provide a more favourable pricing scheme.