A CLINIC at University Hospital Limerick (UHL) offering medication that significantly reduces an individuals risk of contracting HIV has not seen any new patients in nearly nine months because of staffing capacity issues.
The PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) clinic provides daily medication or a series of injections taken by HIV-negative individuals to significantly reduce their risk of contracting HIV through sex or injection drug use.
When taken as prescribed, it can reduce the risk of HIV infection by approximately 99 per cent from sex.
Two clinics in the Mid West area had a wait time of two weeks in 2024, but are currently closed to new appointments by self-referral.
The PrEP clinic at UHL got underway in November 2019, running twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Speaking to the Limerick Post, a spokesman from HSE Mid West confirmed the clinic is not currently accepting any new patients.
“There are 1.5 WTE (whole-time equivalent) infectious diseases consultants currently in post at UHL. We are seeking to recruit an additional two consultants to our infectious disease service which would allow us to increase activity at our PrEP clinic,” the spokesman said.
“We are currently at the interview stage in relation to these additional posts”, the spokesman added, stating that “UHL works closely with the HSE national sexual health programme regarding submissions for resources to support our PrEP and STI clinics to increase capacity, build resilience, and meet the needs of the Mid West region”.
In the meantime, UHL is advising new clients seeking the public PrEP service locally to consider alternative public services available nationally.
Labour TD for Limerick city Conor Sheehan is now calling on the Minister for Health to confirm the number of people waiting for PrEP appointments in 2024 and 2025.
Minister of State at the Department of Health, Jennifer Murnane O’Connor, told Deputy Sheehan that “free PrEP medication is available to individuals who meet clinical eligibility criteria, attending HSE approved PrEP services”.
“These include public PrEP services, delivered through the public network of STI clinics, and some general practice (GP) services and private providers.
“There are currently 13 approved public PrEP services, located in public STI clinics, and 17 private or general practitioner PrEP providers. Appointments at the 13 public PrEP services are free of charge, however the private providers charge for consultations,” she Deputy added.
By the end of 2024, 4,419 users were reimbursed for PrEP medication, compared to 1,753 in 2020.
An additional €550,000 was allocated to PrEP services through Budget 2025, bringing the total allocation to €6.45m this year.
Development of HIV Fast-Track Cities are also underway in Limerick, Dublin, Cork and Galway, and an additional €600,000 has been allocated to support free home STI testing this year.