Photo: Newcastle Herald

Minister for Health Jill Hennessy said the PBS listing would significantly improve access to the drug by making it more affordable, and help Victoria reach its goal of eliminating new HIV transmissions by 2020.

After years of federal inaction, the Labor Government raised PrEP access at the COAG Health Council, and lobbied the Commonwealth to subsidise the treatment after funding the landmark PrEPX study that helped more than 4,000 Victorians access the ground-breaking HIV prevention tool.

As part of a $1.35 million investment into sexual health, the Labor Government has invested a further $400,000 to extend the PrEPX study in partnership with Alfred Health and the Victorian AIDS Council.

This funding will support the training of healthcare staff in prescribing PrEP, and the transition of current study participants into care with their regular GP now that PrEP is listed on the PBS.

Evidence shows that PrEP is one of the most effective HIV prevention tools available. When taken daily it can reduce the risk of HIV transmission by up to 99 per cent.

The Labor Government has now invested $1.9 million into the PrEPX study since 2016, in addition to extra funding sexual health services and HIV prevention clinics at Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, to make sure everyone has access to sexual health screening and treatment, when they need it.