JOY Community Highlights

30 Jan 2016

Health Minister Jill Hennessy Announces 2600 Victorians To Get PrEPed

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Health Minister Jill Hennessy Announces 2600 Victorians To Get PrEPed

World AIDS Day launch, Doherty Institute, Melbourne. 1/12/2015. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Health Minister Jill Hennessy announced today that the Andrew’s Labor Government will expand Victoria’s PrEP trial ensuring up to 2600 at-risk individuals vulnerable to HIV, would soon have access to the latest biomedical intervention, a one-pill-a-day drug that protects HIV negative people from a positive diagnosis.

“While the Federal Liberal Government continues to stall, we’re taking action to ensure thousands of Victorians can access PrEP safely and when they need it.” Victoria’s Health Minister Jill Hennessy said today.

Although approved in the USA since 2012, Australian’s remain frustrated. For PrEP to be available on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, it must first be approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration, a process that will delay access to PrEP locally until late 2017 at the earliest.

Appearing on Melbourne’s LGBTI radio station JOY 94.9, the Health Minister spoke with broadcasters Dean Beck, David (Macca) McCarthy and Tass Mousaferiadis.

“This is a huge step in the fight against HIV, and brings us one step closer to achieving our goal of virtual elimination of new HIV notifications by 2020,” said Minister Hennessy.

The NSW Baird Liberal Government received universal praise on December 1, World AIDS Day 2015 when it announced an expansion of that state’s PrEP trial. Today Victoria joins New South Wales alongside France, South Africa, New York and San Francisco, at the forefront of the global HIV response.

Currently the VicPrEP trial conducted by Burnet Institute enables just 115 high-risk men who have sex with men to participate and receive PrEP. Thousands more men are said to be privately importing the PrEP drug from overseas, assisted by community owned web sites and on-line support and advocacy groups.

Renamed PrEPX, the expanded trial has required months of sensitive negotiations, with today’s announcement only made possible due to a partnership between the Andrew’s Labor Government Burnet Institute, Alfred Health and the Victorian AIDS Council (VAC).

Minister Hennessy confirmed the Victorian AIDS Council and Alfred Health both made substantial financial contributions to ensure today’s announcement could be made. VAC’s contribution is believed to be at least six figures, while Alfred Health’s contribution is thought to be greater.

Refusing to be drawn on the exact amount VAC’s CEO Simon Ruth

From Left: Tass Mousaferiadis, Phillip Joffe, David (Macca) McCarthy and Dean Beck.

said, “ VAC is more than happy to contribute financially so the PrEPX trial can provide prompt accessibility to as many at risk people as possible.”

“VAC congratulates the Andrew’s Government for providing Victoria with the greatest chance possible of achieving the virtual elimination of new HIV infections by 2020. Today’s announcement would not have been possible were it not for the tireless commitment of Victoria’s Health Minister Jill Hennessey and her staff, and the support of the Minister for Equality Martin Foley,” said Simon Ruth.

“I also want to acknowledge Victoria’s gay men who are world leaders in community activation concerning PrEP. The signatories to Victoria’s PrEP Accord have driven the lobbying, advocacy, education, accessibility, peer-led support and education. They have done so quietly, at their own cost and for many years to come we will have much to thank them for,” Mr Ruth said.

In 2014, 1081 Australians were diagnosed HIV positive, 302 of them from Victoria. It’s hoped the PrEPX study will assist in delivering Victoria up to a 30 per cent reduction in new HIV infections, with an estimated 77 new HIV notifications averted through the study over a 12 month period.

The trial is funded for 20 months and will allow all eligible Victorian’s regardless of age, gender or sexuality to apply for PrEP. People can register their interest for inclusion on the PrEPX trial here.

The podcast below features Victoria’s Health Minister Jill Hennessy discussing the expansion of the PrEP Trial, followed by Phillip Joffe, Founder of PrEPaccessNow.com.au with his thoughts on todays announcement.