SPÖ-Lindner on HIV-PrEP: National Council decision on free PrEP is a great success for civil society! – 2024-03-02 17:14:25

SPÖ sees an important first step, but demands rapid improvements and access for 190,000 excluded state employees

Vienna (OTS/SK) – “The National Council decision on free access to HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis PrEP is an important success in the fight against HIV and AIDS – the pressure from the SPÖ and civil society has worked: from April 1, 2024, PrEP will be free,” says SPÖ equal treatment spokesman Mario Lindner. “This new law implements the four-party proposal for free PrEP. This proves once again that political pressure can really change things! I would like to thank all the experts and civil society who have not let up over the years!” But it is also clear to Lindner that this decision is only a first step: the fact that PrEP only becomes free through reimbursement is still 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 transition to the regular system and the distribution of free PrEP via the ‘classic prescription’.” ****

Lindner sees the central success as the fact that, in addition to PrEP, quarterly check-up appointments are also free of charge: “We have thus achieved a real game changer in the fight against other sexually transmitted diseases!” Nevertheless, there is massive criticism from the SPÖ about the fact that 190,000 Those insured by the KfAs and KfGs are simply excluded from free PrEP: “No one can explain to me why I will receive free HIV prophylaxis in the future, 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 therefore wants to draw attention to this issue with further parliamentary initiatives. (End) bj

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