Diane Abbott MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary, commenting on the decision by the High Court to overrule NHS England by allowing PrEP to be prescribed publically, said:

“This is a triumph – and a cost-effective one at that – in the fight against HIV, the prevalence of which is rising in the UK.

“It was wrong to even consider passing the buck on prescribing PrEP, to local public health budgets, which in 2016-17 alone have been cut by around £100 million.

“This would have meant that people who cannot afford to privately buy PrEP would be at a higher risk of contracting HIV than people who can.”

Angela Rayner MP, Labour’s Shadow Women and Equalities Secretary said:

“I welcome the High Court ruling today, it is right and ethical that the NHS fund PrEP for those most at risk of contracting HIV, which includes members of LGBT community. Those most at risk deserve to have the same access to life-saving preventative medical care as everyone else.

“PrEP is already in use in the US, Canada, Australia and France to help protect those most at-risk and it is about time the UK follows suit.”