HIV Weekly - 1st April 2009

A round-up of the latest HIV news, for people living with HIV in the UK and beyond.

Access to free NHS treatment and care

It’s very important that people with HIV have regular medical monitoring and receive expert care.

The best HIV treatment and care in the UK is provided by National Health Service (NHS) specialist HIV clinics. If you are entitled to free NHS treatment and care, then all the care you receive from an NHS HIV clinic will be free.

The UK Court of Appeal has just ruled that refused asylum seekers are not entitled to free NHS treatment and care because they are not ordinary UK residents.

This ruling overturns a ruling made in a lower court a year ago.

However, refused asylum seekers who are currently receiving HIV care can continue to do so for free. NHS rules mean that if you start receiving care for free, then it should remain free for the duration of your treatment.

You can find out more about access to free NHS care here. If you think this ruling affects you, it’s important to obtain reliable information. A good place to start is THT Direct 0845 12 21 200.

HIV and liver disease

Human papilloma virus vaccination

Human papilloma virus can cause anal and genital warts. Certain strains of the virus can cause cell changes in the anus and cervix that can lead to cancer.

A vaccine has been developed that offers very high levels of protection against the strains of human papilloma virus most associated with genital and anal cancers.

Now researchers have found that they also protect against other common strains of the virus as well.

Lots of people, including most people with HIV, are infected with human papilloma virus. The vaccine works best if it is given to people before they’ve become sexually active and been exposed to the virus. Because of this, the official use of human papilloma virus vaccines in the UK is restricted to girls aged twelve and 13.

Studies are currently underway to see if the vaccine is safe and effective in people with HIV and in males.