SP-Lindner on free HIV PrEP: Today is a milestone for sexual health! – 2024-04-03 03:29:43

After much pressure, HIV PrEP will become free of charge on April 1, 2024 – SPÖ is demanding rapid improvements and access for 190,000 excluded state employees

Vienna (OTS) – The long pressure from experts, activists and the SPÖ has worked. SPÖ equal treatment spokesman Mario Lindner is happy about today’s April 1st: “For once it’s not an April Fool’s joke, but something really goes further in Austria: From today on, HIV prophylaxis PrEP is finally free in this country! We fought for this for a long time – I would like to congratulate everyone who didn’t give up with all my heart. This new law implements the four-party proposal for free PrEP. This proves once again that political pressure can really change something!” Lindner co-initiated a four-party motion in December 2023, in which the SPÖ, ÖVP, Greens and NEOS finally spoke out together in favor of this important measure.

“With free access to PrEP, we are not only taking an important step in the fight against HIV and AIDS: Through the free but mandatory check-up examinations every quarter, we will also be able to effectively contain other sexually transmitted infections and break chains of infection! “The free PrEP will be a real milestone for sexual health in our country,” says Lindner happily. From today, April 1st, PrEP users can submit the monthly costs of up to EUR 60 and EUR 25 per check-up examination to their health insurance companies and be reimbursed. However, Lindner also emphasizes that this step is particularly important for risk groups; in general, safe sex, the use of condoms and regular testing, for example with AIDS help, are and remain central to the sexual health of each and every individual.

But it is also clear to the SPÖ MP that this step is only a first step: the fact that PrEP is only free through cost reimbursements continues to be an enormous hurdle, especially for vulnerable people. “Not everyone can afford to pay 60 euros per month in advance and then wait for health insurance. Within the next year there needs to be a transfer to the regular system and the distribution of free PrEP via the ‘classic recipe.'” There is also massive criticism from the SPÖ that 190,000 people insured by KfAs and KfGs are simply excluded from free PrEP: “Nobody can explain to me why I can get free HIV prophylaxis from today, but an employee of MA 48 in Vienna or an Upper Austrian regional teacher cannot. I call on the Minister of Health to correct this error immediately and to end this discrimination!” Together with the states and civil society, Lindner will put pressure on the ministry to quickly make a correction: “But above all, I appeal to the ÖVP , which is responsible for the health sector in many countries: Let’s fix this error quickly and easily, let’s not leave the state employees out in the cold!” In the coming weeks, Lindner wants to draw attention to this issue with further parliamentary initiatives.

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