MS, Cabinet Secretary for
Health and Social Care: I am pleased to provide Members with a
further update about how we are working to achieve our ambition
of ending new transmissions of HIV in Wales by 2030 and ensuring
all those who have HIV in Wales live well.
Since my last statement in November, which provided an update
about the HIV Action Plan, I am today confirming ongoing funding
to support the delivery of the plan over the remainder of its
lifetime – a minimum of £4.7m a year will be available for the
next two financial years. This will provide the stability needed
to build on the good progress made to date and to strengthen
collaboration.
I am pleased to report testing rates are increasing, but we want
to do more to make it as easy as possible for people to access
testing. Within the funding package, £3.9m a year will continue
to be allocated for our free and confidential online testing
programme. This free service supports the provision of 40,000
at-home HIV tests a year. The funding will expand the provision
of testing kits in local communities – we have already
distributed nearly 16,000 community testing kits in settings
throughout Wales.
We also want to improve access and uptake of pre-exposure
prophylaxis (PrEP) – this is a medicine which, when taken as
prescribed, reduces the risk of contracting HIV through sex by
99%. I have agreed that an alternative form of PrEP will be made
routinely available for those who, for clinical reasons, cannot
take the current available form.
We need to continue to raise awareness of the importance of
testing, awareness of PrEP for those who are at risk and
re-enforce key messages, including that people who are on
effective treatment cannot pass HIV onto others. Funding will be
allocated to support this campaign work.
I am determined Wales will become a Fast Track Nation with all
seven health board areas signed up to the Paris Declaration. Five
health boards have signed so far – Cwm Taf Morgannwg University
Health Board is the latest. To help us reach this goal and
strengthen collaboration, engagement and the sharing of best
practice, funding will also be allocated to support an all-Wales
coalition.
We want people who have HIV to live well. There are approximately
2,800 people living with HIV in Wales. We will build on the range
of support already available and fund a national peer support
programme.
In addition to this funding package, there are a range of health
and social care research funds that can and do support this
agenda. Health Care Research Wales recently announced £3m for a
Wales Applied Virology Unit and nearly £230,000 will be allocated
to extend the ‘text for testing' research pilot to GP surgeries
in parts of Wales.
I will continue to keep members updated about our progress to
deliver this key Programme for Government commitment, and our
ultimate goal to end new transmissions of HIV in Wales by 2030
and ensure people who have HIV in Wales live well.
