From today, serving personnel who are taking suppressive
treatment for HIV, and whose blood tests show no detectable
virus, will now be recognised as fully fit for all service. The
policy change also applies to anyone wishing to join the
military, meaning living with HIV is no longer a barrier for
those wishing to serve.
Today’s announcement follows the significant policy changes made
on World Aids Day last year to allow those taking Pre-Exposure
Prophylaxis (PrEP) medication to prevent HIV infection could join
the Armed Forces with
immediate effect.
The changes demonstrate Defence’s recognition of advances in the
management, treatment and prevention of HIV and its commitment to
ensuring the Armed Forces become a more modern and inclusive
employer.
Chief of Defence People, Lieutenant General James Swift
said:
Our people are our greatest asset and as part of the drive to
modernise our Armed Forces we are making these long overdue
policy changes so people with HIV, but no detectable virus, are
now able to join the military and those serving will be declared
fully fit.
This welcome change in policy is a recognition of the superb
medical advancements that have been made and the decisive work by
those that helped to bring about these changes. We will continue
to ensure that all our people have the best experience possible,
where their health and wellbeing is prioritised, and they can
serve with pride and feel valued and supported in a modern Armed
Forces.
Ian Green, Chief Executive at Terrence Higgins Trust,
said:
Forty years since the start of the HIV epidemic, this historic
rule change shows the truly remarkable progress that’s been made.
We’ve made huge strides in the fight against HIV and you can now
live a long, healthy life with the virus. That means no career
should be off limits – including serving in our armed forces.
It’s crucial it is now properly implemented to see the real-life
impact of this momentous change for both existing serving
personnel and those wishing to join. We also need to see an end
to the final barrier in place which stops military aircrew and
air traffic controllers taking HIV prevention pill PrEP to
protect themselves against the virus. This must be reviewed and
implemented as soon as possible.
Lieutenant Commander Oli Brown said:
From today I can be considered fully fit by the Royal Navy for
the first time since I told them about my HIV diagnosis. Being
labelled as limited deployable made me question myself and doubt
my capability – it took a toll on my mental health. The biggest
thing about this change is knowing that no-one else will feel how
I did.
The message is loud and clear – people living with HIV are not
limited in any way. I take one tablet a day which makes my HIV
undetectable and that I can’t pass it on. There is no reason why
I, or anyone else, should be restricted in the Armed Forces and
today’s change reflects that reality.
The changes announced today will be welcome news to those
currently unable to deploy on operations. The new policy will
ensure that people living with HIV will be provided personal
medical supplies to last throughout their deployment. If this
should get lost or damaged, it can be replaced using the same
process that already exists for other personnel needing regular
medication.
The policy changes aim to remove unnecessary restrictions and
processes and ensures that HIV is managed in the same way as any
other comparable medical condition. These changes will remove the
stigma around HIV and encourage everybody to get tested and
treated, ensuring a better outcome for everyone.
Alongside this Defence continues to provide a comprehensive and
high-class clinical service for those serving personnel who are
living with HIV.
This delivers on commitments made at the end of last year to
ensure our Armed Forces remain at the forefront of medical
advancements and continue to be a world leader in the treatment
of our serving personnel.
