Campaigners want Scottish government to introduce HIV prevention drug ahead of its licensing

Campaigners have called on the Scottish government to follow the example of France and introduce a drug that could prevent HIV without waiting for it to be licensed.

The drug, called Truvada, hit the headlines last week after the High Court told the NHS in England that the treatment needed to be funded despite the arguments of health bosses who said it was the responsibility of councils.

According to critics, the drug could lead to irresponsible sexual behaviour – with some describing it as a ''lifestyle drug'' – and would strain scarce NHS resources.

The drug, which studies had found could reduce the risk of infection by nearly 90 per cent, was expected to be of most benefit for gay men who were at higher risk of contracting HIV.

According to Charity HIV Scotland, ministers north of the border needed to follow the example of France, which last year said it would make the drug available for free before it was fully licensed for prevention, as a pre-exposure prophylaxis medication (PrEP).

George Valiotis, chief executive of HIV Scotland, said, ''In France, the health minister said last year we are not going to wait for licensing, we are going to do this now as it can make a real difference to transmission rates.

''We would hope the Scottish Government would take the same approach and say we will act now'', Herald Scotland reported.

According to commentators, the statistics of the company on the pill were impressive and taken daily, it could cut the risk of getting HIV by over 90 per cent.

However, due to a couple of aspects of the drug, its uptake had been slowed, which included having to take it every day.

There were side effects for some, which ranged from diarrhea and stomach problems on the mild end, and liver, kidney and bone problems on the more serious side.

It was still new as a preventative medication, so doctors might not know about it and if one's insurance did not cover it, it could cost upward of $1,000 a month.