HIV/AIDS: Drugs
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of expanding access to HIV PrEP through community pharmacies.
Answered by Mrs Sharon Hodgson
The HIV Action Plan, published on World AIDS Day, 1 December 2025, sets out how the Government will enable every level of the healthcare system to work together to engage everyone in prevention, testing and treatment, tackle stigma, and reach our ambition to end new HIV transmissions by 2030. This includes a dedicated action to deliver tailored and targeted HIV prevention, treatment, and care services to meet the needs of local populations and address inequalities, including access to HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).
Access to HIV PrEP in England is via commissioned level 3 sexual health services. These are commissioned by local authorities for people in the community. Decisions on the configuration of these services ultimately rest with local authorities, who may choose to involve pharmacies in PrEP pathways.
To reduce inequalities in education, access, and uptake of HIV prevention interventions, the Government will work with local government on wider implementation of new PrEP approaches and technologies. This includes building and promoting the evidence around alternative delivery settings, digital platforms for remote PrEP prescribing, and new injectable PrEP medications, following regulatory due process.
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