Jeremy Hunt said 'what will the Daily Mail say?' when told about funding of HIV prevention drug

Jeremy Hunt said 'what will the Daily Mail say?' when told about funding of HIV prevention drug Fear of a public and right-wing media backlash could be holding back the funding of a new “game-changing” preventative HIV treatment, according to the leader of the drug's clinical trial.

The High Court last month overturned NHS England’s claim that it did not have the power to fund the prescription of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) pills to people at high risk of HIV infection.

NHS England is appealing the ruling, which sparked angry criticism from right-wing politicians and commentators – with some dubbing the new treatment a “lifestyle drug” and “promiscuity pill”, reported the Daily Mail.


In an interview with The Independent, Professor Sheena McCormack said the Government risks being influenced by public outrage instead of making a “straightforward, everyday business decision” according to clinical evidence and costs. The Independent