GPs ‘not passing on’ sufficient information on HIV/AIDS

A SENIOR public health specialist has expressed concern that family doctors are not passing on sufficient information to the health authorities about the incidence of HIV/AIDS in Ireland.

Dr Darina O’Flanagan, director of the HSE’s Health Protection Surveillance Centre, said the system of voluntary reporting by GPs should be made mandatory in order to improve data on transmission of the infection and related illnesses.

The HPSC has warned that the number of reported cases is likely to underestimate the prevalence of HIV/AIDS because of the voluntary nature of the reporting system.