OUR GOAL IS TO END NEW HIV CASES IN THE UK BY 2030
We can see a future with no new cases of HIV in the UK. Together with our partners, we are increasing HIV testing, expanding access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and helping people stay on treatment. These collaborative efforts are vital in reaching this historic goal.
Why it matters
There are an estimated 107,000 people living with HIV in the UK, including around 5,150 people who are undiagnosed.
HIV diagnoses are rising sharply among heterosexual men and women, particularly within marginalized communities and we are seeing a troubling trend in the number of people who have been lost to care and stopped treatment. PrEP, a safe, effective pill that can stop people acquiring HIV, has been available free of charge from NHS sexual health clinics since 2020, yet there isn’t equal access to this lifesaving medication.
These issues must be addressed if we are to end new cases of HIV in the UK.
We have a real chance of achieving something incredible by becoming the first country to stop new HIV transmissions. – David Furnish, Chair
What we fund
Since we were founded in 1992, we have worked to provide people living with HIV in the UK with the care they need. By funding innovative, scalable solutions and through Elton’s tireless campaigning, the Foundation has played a vital role in changing the trajectory of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the UK.
To end new cases of HIV in the UK we are currently focused on:
Scaling up HIV testing
Our pioneering HIV Social Impact Bond showed that automatically testing people for HIV in emergency departments, unless they opt-out, is an effective and cost-saving way to find people living with HIV and get them the treatment they need. After our successful pilot in three London boroughs, which health economists estimated saved the NHS £50 million, the government has committed to expandhis programme to 81 emergency departments across England. We’re continuing to advocate for further funding to extend this impact.
Making PrEP more accessible
Together with our partners ViiV Healthcare, Gilead Sciences and Fast-Track Cities, we are working on a pilot to make PrEP more available in England. This will ensure that everyone at risk of getting HIV can easily access this important prevention method, helping to reduce new HIV cases and protect vulnerable communities.
Ensuring people stay on HIV treatment
It is estimated there could be as many as 14,000 people living with HIV who have stopped their HIV care and treatment. This not only puts lives at risk and makes it harder to stop new cases but also costs the NHS tens of millions of pounds in treatment costs. Our Social Impact Bond successfully reconnected 256 people who had dropped out of care back on treatment. We are committed to working with the private sector, government and civil society partners to find new approaches and entry points to ensure anyone with HIV is brought back into and stays in care.
Advocating For A Comprehensive HIV Action Plan
With the National AIDS Trust and the Terrence Higgins Trust, we are urging the UK Government to produce an ambitious refresh of its HIV Action Plan to help us meet the goal of ending new cases of HIV in the UK by 2030. This plan needs to focus on increasing HIV testing, making PrEP more accessible, especially to the most at-risk communities, and improving connection to and retention in HIV care.
