[Israeli] Health Ministry to provide preventative drug against HIV

INN ^ | 2/23/2016, 2:23 PM | (Arutz Sheva Staff)

[Olog-hai]

Representatives of Health Ministry have told the Knesset Health Committee that they will soon begin to administer the PREP medication as a preventative measure to people who have a high risk of contracting the HIV virus. Thus, Israel will become only the fourth country in the world (following France, the U.S., and Holland) where this treatment is offered by the government.

Currently, PREP is only included in the health benefits package after a person has contracted the HIV virus. The medication currently costs 2,500 shekels for those who purchase it on their own without medical coverage.

Neta Harel, the National Secretary in the Health Ministry for AIDS carriers, told reporters that "we made the suggestion to the director of the ministry to begin the pilot program and he acquiesced. We will begin by laying the groundwork for the project, enlisting the hospitals and the health maintenance organizations (HMOs) and will work towards increasing coverage for wider sectors of the public who are at risk, and not just homosexuals." ...

[Wyrd bið ful aræd]

I know of a vaccine that is almost guaranteed to prevent HIV. It’s called, “Don’t screw everything that moves.”

[fwdude]

"...the PREP medication as a preventative measure to people who have a high risk of contracting the HIV virus."

Instead of restricting the high risk behavior, I guess.

This is like subsidizing people who refuse to stop playing Russian Roulette by giving them revolvers with a few more chambers in the cylinder to play with.