PrEP Commissioning 2020-01-28
2020-01-28
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Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
Local authorities need assistance in preparing for routine commissioning of PrEP.
What discussions has the Minister had with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on providing assistance to local authorities in preparing for routine commissioning of PrEP?
I have spoken to the relevant Ministers in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, and my officials are working closely with other key stakeholders to ensure that we deliver routine commissioning of PrEP—pre-exposure prophylaxis—to help end new HIV transmissions. NHS England and NHS Improvement have already agreed to fund all the ongoing costs of the drugs for PrEP going forward.
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Q2
Direct Answer
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Context
The trial for PrEP will end in July, but routine commissioning is expected to be rolled out from April.
I am grateful for the Minister's response and for the Secretary of State's announcement that he wants routine commissioning of PrEP by April. What has the Department done to achieve this? The PrEP trial will end this year, and we need a guarantee that every single person who needs and wants PrEP will get it from April.
NHS England and NHS Improvement have already agreed, within the ring-fenced funding for public health, to fund the ongoing costs of drugs for PrEP going forward. We will provide information on how the other elements of the programme will be funded and how commissioners will be supported. Routine commissioning will roll out from April.
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Q3
Direct Answer
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Context
The public health grant will increase by 1% in real terms but has not yet been allocated to local authorities.
In October last year, the Government confirmed that the local authority public health grant will increase by 1% in real terms in 2020-21. However, this funding has not yet been allocated to local authorities. How will the Government financially support local authorities to establish routine commissioning of PrEP by April?
NHS England and NHS Improvement have already agreed, within the ring-fenced funding for public health, to fund the ongoing costs of drugs for PrEP going forward. There will be an additional allocation of funds to cover the PrEP roll-out completely.
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