The Minister for Health, Simon Harris, and Minister for Health Promotion, Catherine Byrne, have said they are committed to implementing the pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) programme. The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has advised Minister Harris that a national PrEP programme would be safe, effective and cost-saving. Hiqa published a health technology assessment recommending the PrEP programme for people at substantial risk of sexually acquiring HIV. The authority's director of health technology assessment and deputy chief executive, Dr Máirín Ryan, said HIV remained a significant public health concern. Meanwhile, HIV Ireland has welcomed the Government's commitment to join the international Fast-Track Cities initiative to reduce new HIV infections.

Source: Irish Examiner June 14, 2019 15:33 UTC