A chara, – The article on the actions of the Customs Service seizing internet- sourced medications used to prevent HIV infection (Home News, July 31st) raises serious and urgent questions for public administration in the State.
With 10 new HIV diagnoses in Ireland every week, and a 35 per cent increase in new cases since 2011, HIV Ireland reiterates its call for the immediate introduction of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) as a key element of HIV prevention. PrEP is a once daily medication that, in combination with safer-sex practices, has been proven to significantly reduce the risk of sexually acquired HIV-1 infection among uninfected adults at high risk.
The evidence supporting claims of the efficacy of PrEP medication has been available for some time. It’s use is believed to be an important contributor to the significant reductions in new cases of HIV infection in parts of the UK. At a recent conference held by HIV Ireland to launch a policy options paper on PrEP, Dr Patrick Mallon, consultant in infectious diseases at the Mater Hospital, called current Irish HIV infection rates a crisis and advocated the urgent introduction of PrEP.
The response of our public administration lags significantly behind the efforts of an increasing number of adults attempting to lower their risk of HIV infection by sourcing PrEP via the internet. This is not good enough. The continuing absence of this vital tool in the everyday armoury of HIV prevention work denies people within this State additional and vital protection. The time for delay is over.
We would urge the Minister for Health to publicly enter this debate, and provide leadership on a vital matter of public health and public policy. The contribution of the Taoiseach at the recent Pride event in Dublin committing his government to the fight against sexually transmitted infections requires nothing less. – Yours, etc,
NIALL MULLIGAN,
Executive Director,
HIV Ireland, Dublin 1.