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Men who have sex with men may use PrEP of the drug to prevent HIV. Until now, there was no compensation for the drug, which costs around 50 euros a month. Starting next year, PrEP will be partially reimbursed by the government.
Every year, more than a thousand people in the Netherlands contract HIV. Gay men in particular are affected. "This is a step in the right direction," says Sebastiaan Verboeket about Minister Bruno Bruins' plans to make the drug cheaper. He is a doctor and researcher and has been taking PrEP for years.
Small contribution
PrEP users will soon pay a maximum of 25% of the cost of the drug. This equates to 12 euros per month. Much less than the 50 euros that cost the drug first.
"It's fine that the pills are coming soon for a more palatable amount and that a larger group can use it," says Verboeket, "but the truth I have to wait for a little longer for the implementation of the program. "
Test
It is expected that PrEP will be provided in a five-year trial by five to seven GGDs, spread across the country. The GGD asks users to be accompanied on a monthly basis so that the course of the test can be followed. The doctor can then, for example, monitor whether the user will faithfully take the medication.
About 6,500 men will use PrEP, says Minister Bruno Bruins. It can save 250 infections a year. After five years, the government looks into whether the trial was successful and worthy of follow-up, said Minister Bruno Bruins
reimbursement of PrEP
The homosexual community and a group of doctors have been asking for a long time reimbursement of PrEP. The Health Council, which advises the minister on the core package, agrees with them and recommended to the minister in March to pay for the sexually active gay person.
Opponents of compensation point out that people can also protect themselves against condoms against HIV. The company should not have to pay for the costs. Mr Bruins points out, however, that it is important for society as a whole that HIV no longer spreads, because others are less at risk. In addition, it saves expensive treatments that are necessary after the infection.
What is PrEP?
- PrEP is a pill with HIV inhibitors that can prevent HIV infection. The pill is for people who are not infected with HIV, but who are at increased risk of getting infected.
- Pre-exposure prophylaxis is pre-exposure prophylaxis. This means that you are taking a medication before being exposed to a pathogen.
- PrEP consists of 1 tablet, Truvada. It contains 2 drugs, namely emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil.
- If you use PrEP, you normally take 1 tablet a day, always at the same time. For people who are not regularly exposed to the risk of HIV infection, PrEP can also be used only around sex. You must take a pill in advance.
- Studies show that people are 90% or more protected against HIV if they take their pill every day at the same time. If you do not, PrEP offers less protection
(Source: GGD Amsterdam)
Anne had HIV when she was sixteen
There is a huge taboo about HIV, although it can be lived today. Anne Hamers suffers from this taboo. She had HIV from her first boyfriend when she was sixteen.
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