NHS to appeal against HIV drug legal ruling

NHS England is to appeal against a High Court ruling that it has the power to commission a drug described as a “game-changer” in the fight against HIV/Aids — and could cost it £10m-£20m (€11.9m-€23.8m) a year.

The body argued that providing the drug — pre- exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) — was not its responsibility and it was for local councils to fund “preventative” health treatment.

Mr Justice Green, sitting in London, disagreed and ruled that NHS England had erred in law and it did have the power to commission PrEP, a highly effective anti-retroviral drug used to stop HIV from becoming established in the event of transmission.