PrEP stands for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis. This booklet is about taking PrEP to prevent HIV (HIV PrEP). HIV PrEP is taken by HIV negative people before having sex (pre-exposure) and after sex, to prevent HIV (this is called prophylaxis). Currently available HIV PrEP is a combination tablet containing two drugs: tenofovir and emtricitabine. These medicines are widely used to treat HIV. They have been licensed for use as PrEP in Europe since August 2016.

If you are HIV negative and don’t always use condoms for sex, or you share injecting drug equipment, then you may be at risk of HIV. Since 2019, the HSE has made PrEP medication available free of charge through community pharmacies to individuals who are likely to benefit from the intervention and for whom it is not contraindicated. At this time, free PrEP care is available through public PrEP services. Individuals attending other HSE approved PrEP providers (such as general practice (GP) or private providers) will have to pay for the consultation, investigations, treatment of STIs and vaccines. For further information on where PrEP is available, see www.sexualwellbeing.ie/ getprep. PrEP is dispensed through community pharmacies and you will need a drug payment scheme (DPS), medical card or long term illness card to access free PrEP through the HSE. 

This report provides the lates data on the PrEP programme in Ireland to the end of 2023, as per the key performance indicators.