The Greens have repeated their call for the Federal Government to fast-track the approval of HIV-prevention medication, Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), following Canada’s approval of the treatment.

Canada joined the United States and France in approving the drug Truvada late last month.

“The approval of PrEP drugs should be fast-tracked by the Australian Government,” said the Greens’ spokesperson on Sexuality, Senator Robert Simms.

“There is now a strong evidence base and consensus amongst Australian non-government organisations working in this area that PrEP, along with rapid HIV tests and home self-tests are vital to add to the prevention tools currently available, so the Government should be doing all it can to speed up availability.

Senator Simms said Australia was lagging behind other countries in approving the treatment.

In November last year, the Senate backed Senator Simms’ motion calling on the Australian Government to remove regulatory barriers to access to PrEP, rapid HIV tests and home self-tests, and urgently explore policy options, including expanded trials in states and territories, to enable access to these important prevention tools.

Recently, Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration pushed its deadline to make a decision on PrEP to May 2016.

Trials on the use of the drug as a preventative option have been conducted in New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria.

Last year members of the LGBTI community showed their frustration with Australia’s prolonged approval process for the treatment through a poster campaign on the streets of Melbourne.

OIP Staff