People with a high risk of HIV have been granted access to a preventative treatment, the government's drug buying agency Pharmac has annnounced.
PrEP, also know as Truvada, helps protects against the HIV virus. Photo: New Zealand AIDS Foundation
Pharmac said it would widen access to the drug Truvada, which works to prevent infection with HIV.
Truvada is already funded for treating people infected with HIV.
The agency said the decision meant the drug would also be funded for people if they were not infected but their risk of contracting HIV was high.
It estimated up to 4000 people would benefit from the decision.
The change will take effect in March.
From 1 March 2018 we're widening access to Truvada for the prevention of HIV. Up to 4000 eligible people could benefit from this decision. Check out our website for more info #PrEP https://t.co/EMN218FzQb @NZAFofficial pic.twitter.com/BUJxxJL8IB
— PHARMAC (@PHARMACnz) February 7, 2018
