{"id":73905,"date":"2017-04-11T15:14:03","date_gmt":"2017-04-11T15:14:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/news\/scotland-approves-a-controversial-anti-hiv-drug\/"},"modified":"2017-04-11T15:14:03","modified_gmt":"2017-04-11T15:14:03","slug":"scotland-approves-a-controversial-anti-hiv-drug","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/news\/scotland-approves-a-controversial-anti-hiv-drug\/","title":{"rendered":"Scotland approves a controversial anti-HIV drug\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Scotland has become the first country in the UK to make a controversial HIV-prevention drug available on the NHS.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has approved the pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) treatment, which has the brand name Truvada.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">AIDS campaigners hope the approval will put pressure on authorities in England to provide the medication. The NHS has announced a large clinical trial of the drug will initiate in England in 2017-18.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">PrEP minimises high-risk people\u2019s HIV susceptibility by  92 per cent. At-risk individuals include those with HIV positive sexual partners.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Dr Alan MacDonald, chairman, SMC, said the drug \u2018when used together with safer sex practices may help to reduce the spread of HIV, which is an ongoing priority for the Scottish Government\u2019.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\"><span class=\"mol-style-bold\">Scroll down for video\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>        <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-4f62e281c3605ece\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" height=\"333\" width=\"634\" alt=\"The Scottish Medicines Consortium's approval of pre-exposure prophylaxis in at-risk HIV individuals may pressure NHS England to provide the controversial \u00a34,000 a year medication\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" \/><\/p>\n<p>    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-4f62e281c3605ece\" src=\"http:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/i\/pix\/2017\/04\/11\/08\/3F206D0800000578-4400564-image-m-3_1491897105197.jpg\" height=\"333\" width=\"634\" alt=\"The Scottish Medicines Consortium's approval of pre-exposure prophylaxis in at-risk HIV individuals may pressure NHS England to provide the controversial \u00a34,000 a year medication\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">The Scottish Medicines Consortium\u2019s approval of pre-exposure prophylaxis in at-risk HIV individuals may pressure NHS England to provide the controversial \u00a34,000 a year medication<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"mol-factbox-title\">ANTI-DRUG CAMPAIGNER\u2019S ARGUMENT\u00a0<\/h3>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">NHS England has a \u00a325 million annual budget for specialised new treatments in rare diseases.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">PrEP\u2019s potential approval in England could mean the drug takes up \u00a320 million of this budget.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Patients with cystic fibrosis, deafness or limb amputations may subsequently be denied new medical devices and drugs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Critics also fear PrEP\u2019s broad approval may encourage sexual risk-taking behaviour.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">NHS England has resisted rolling out PrEP because of it\u2019s cost, the Guardian<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">The treatment costs around \u00a34,000 a year per patient. \u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Yet, Robert McKay, national director, the Terrence Higgins Trust Scotland, said: \u2018For every person who would have become HIV positive without PrEP, NHS Scotland will save \u00a3360,000 in lifetime treatment costs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018PrEP can now be used as a vital tool \u2013 alongside condom use, regular testing and early treatment \u2013 to help bring an end to HIV transmission in Scotland.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">The Terrence Higgins Trust Scotland worked with the charities HIV Scotland, Waverley Care and National Aids Trust (NAT) to campaign for the drug to be made available in the PrEP4Scotland Coalition.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">A group statement  said: \u2018We applaud the SMC for taking this bold step to tackling HIV in Scotland.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>        <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-9ea41d44c32e28c9\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" height=\"357\" width=\"634\" alt=\"PrEP reduces  HIV transmission by 92 per cent but may divert funding from other diseases\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" \/><\/p>\n<p>    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-9ea41d44c32e28c9\" src=\"http:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/i\/pix\/2017\/04\/11\/09\/3F2727A700000578-4400564-image-a-4_1491897690421.jpg\" height=\"357\" width=\"634\" alt=\"PrEP reduces  HIV transmission by 92 per cent but may divert funding from other diseases\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">PrEP reduces  HIV transmission by 92 per cent but may divert funding from other diseases<\/p>\n<ul class=\"rotator-panels link-bogr1 linkro-ccox\">\n<li>\n<p>          <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/i\/pix\/2017\/04\/10\/23\/3F23ED9A00000578-0-image-a-9_1491864242455.jpg\" width=\"62\" height=\"60\" \/><span>How the NHS won\u2019t give Bonnie a cancer drug that will extend\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n<p>          <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/i\/pix\/2017\/04\/11\/00\/3F250B4100000578-0-image-a-19_1491867344423.jpg\" width=\"62\" height=\"60\" \/><span>Why skipping a shower before entering the swimming pool can\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n<p>          <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/i\/pix\/2017\/04\/11\/01\/3EFA1FEF00000578-0-image-m-30_1491871516251.jpg\" width=\"62\" height=\"60\" \/><span>Simple nose spray that could save your life: Mist that\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n<p>          <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/i\/pix\/2017\/04\/11\/01\/2EC310FB00000578-0-image-m-10_1491869234828.jpg\" width=\"62\" height=\"60\" \/><span>At last! The diagnosis that could explain why YOUR joints\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018PrEP provides opportunities to reinvigorate how people at higher risk of HIV exposure engage with testing and prevention opportunities, and it is a vital opportunity to make a real reduction in the number of new HIV transmissions.\u2019<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">George Valiotis, chief executive of HIV Scotland, added the drug would be \u2018an essential addition to Scotland\u2019s HIV prevention approach\u2019.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\n<h3 class=\"mol-factbox-title\">HIV FACTS\u00a0<\/h3>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">HIV is a virus that attacks the immune system and reduces your ability to fight infections.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Around 101,200 people were living with HIV in the UK at the end of 2015.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Recent years have seen around 6,000 people test positive for HIV each year, more than half are gay or bisexual men.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">HIV is largely linked to sexual behaviour.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Having a high numbers of sexual partners and anal sex without a condom carries a higher risk than unprotected vaginal sex.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">HIV infection is also linked to injecting recreational drugs, particularly sharing needles.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">There is no cure for HIV.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Treatments known as antiretrovirals stop the virus replicating, allowing the immune system to repair.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\"><span class=\"mol-style-italic\">Source: Terrence Higgins Trust and NHS Choices\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Deborah Gold, chief executive, NAT, also praised the move, saying the \u2018game-changing prevention tool has the potential to massively reduce HIV rates and turn Scotland into a model internationally of how to do HIV prevention well.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\"> \u2018The speed and decisiveness of the Scottish process contrasts starkly with delays in the other three UK nations.\u2019<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Grant Sugden, chief executive, Waverley Care, said: \u2018This is a groundbreaking decision that has the potential to reduce new HIV infections and also improve the quality of life of at-risk communities in Scotland.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018HIV still looms large over the lives of many gay and bisexual men, with damaging consequences for their relationships and their physical and emotional health.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018PrEP can play a role in addressing this, helping to rebuild confidence and self-esteem and allowing men to lead healthier, happier lives.\u2019\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Gordon Garioch, 53, from Aberdeen, is currently taking a generic version of the drug, which he buys online.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">He said: \u2018For me PrEP is a reassurance \u2013 I used to worry all the time.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018I have always been cautious, but some of my friends have been cautious and got HIV.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018Taking PrEP has allowed me to take control of my sexual health, and therefore both my physical and mental health.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018I feel by taking PrEP I am being responsible to myself, but I am also being responsible to my sexual partners.\u2019\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Scotland has become the first country in the UK to make a controversial HIV-prevention drug available on the NHS. The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has approved the pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) treatment, which has the brand name Truvada.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 AIDS campaigners hope the approval will put pressure on authorities in England to provide the medication. The NHS [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-73905","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73905","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=73905"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73905\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=73905"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=73905"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=73905"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}