With Elton John AIDS Foundation and National AIDS Trust, we have launched a new report: Getting on track: Becoming the first country to end new HIV cases by 2030.
Four years ago our organisations came together to put ending new HIV cases on the Government’s agenda. We founded the HIV Commission of experts and senior leaders to set out a clear roadmap for ending new cases of HIV in this country by 2030. In 2021, England’s HIV Action Plan 2022 - 2025 followed.
We have made significant progress since then, but we are still not on track to reach our goal. With the plan set to expire soon, the Government has committed to publishing a new HIV Action Plan by summer next year. This requires an honest assessment of where we are and what needs to be done to scale up our collective efforts to end new HIV transmissions. It requires a renewed focus on addressing the inequalities in the epidemic and ensuring everyone can access the prevention and care they need. It requires PrEP to be more accessible, especially to those groups who may not be aware of their risk of acquiring HIV. It requires us to hear the voices of those living with HIV, and ensure care is centred around their needs and daily lives.
Our three organisations believe passionately that we can end new HIV cases by 2030. To do so, we have identified six key goals and six corresponding policy recommendations to get there, which we have set out in this new report:
1. HIV prevention should be the responsibility of the whole health service. NHS England should co-own the new HIV Action Plan with the Department for Health and Social Care and appoint a new designated HIV lead in NHS England to drive the changes needed.
2. Everyone in England should be able to get an HIV and STI test at home. The Department for Health and Social Care should invest in a year-round online HIV and STI postal testing service.
3. We must find everyone living with undiagnosed HIV. Opt-out HIV testing in emergency departments must continue and be expanded to other health settings, including to GPs and termination of pregnancy services, in line with clinical guidelines.
4. Everyone who can benefit from PrEP should be able to access it, including online. The Government should introduce a national PrEP Expansion Plan.
5. Everyone living with diagnosed HIV should have the support they need to access care. NHS England should commission a national HIV retention and re-engagement programme.
6. Everyone living with HIV must feel safe and confident in every healthcare setting that they go to. Training and awareness-raising programmes should be in place in all healthcare settings so that staff have the right knowledge on HIV and no one living with HIV experiences discrimination.
We haven’t produced these recommendations alone. We have consulted and engaged widely, among HIV sector leaders, clinicians, with policy-makers and – crucially – with people living with HIV themselves. Their voices are central to this effort and we thank them for their time and engagement with us.
Making England the first country in the world to end new cases of HIV is still possible, but we are not on track. We can do it only if we accelerate our efforts now. We believe that with ambition, investment and clear direction, we can get this done. Our report sets out how.
