Healthy Gay Men Should Be Given Hiv Treatment To Prevent Infection.

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2967112/Healthy-gay-men-given-HIV-treatment-PREVENT-infection-game-changing-trial-suggests.html

Much as been suggested regarding obese people and smoker's restricted treatment on the NHS, all under the name of "lifestyle rationing", if these two lifestyles are under scrutiny, why should NHS money be spent on gay men's lifestyle?

[Cloverjo]

Are we not allowed to use the word homosexual any more? "Men who have sex with men" is a bit clunky.
I think anything that keeps people alive and well is a good thing. We're all dying from our lifestyles.

[Peter Pedant]

because if costs far more in the end to treat a later stage

but you knew that you narty narty man you
when you first posted
and are only mentioning it to stimulate .... debate

Ronald Reagan who was determined to ignore the HIV epidemic in the late seventies was credited with racking up extra on-costs of one trillion dollars in health care as a result of his inaction.

Yup the cost of the AIDS epidemic in the US is costed as a thousand billion bucks

sounds as tho we should be putting this stuff in the tap water

[anotheoldgit]

Peter Pedant

/// because if costs far more in the end to treat a later stage ///

Then why don't they issue them all with condoms?

And why should they only be concerned about gays, I didn't think Aids was a 'gay disease'?

/// but you knew that you narty narty man you ///

Please explain what is the meaning of narty narty was it your way pedantic of issuing an insult?

[andy-hughes]

I don't think people should be restricted in their access to health care based on their lifestyle - so I would be in favour of any preventative treatment that will save lives first and foremost, and costs second.

But far better would be to try and educate gay men of the dangers of a lifestyle where promiscuity and unsafe sex appear to be higher than in that of the heterosexual world.

"...why should NHS money be spent on gay men's lifestyle?"

I think the spending is directed towards health and well-being, rather than to encourage a 'lifestyle'.

[andy-hughes]

AOG - "And why should they only be concerned about gays, I didn't think Aids was a 'gay disease'?"

I don't think they are 'only concerned' about gays - but the higher incidence of sexually transmitted diseases among the homosexual population is a statistical fact, and must be addressed as such.

[Peter Pedant]

.

// Then why don't they issue them all with condoms? //

er noooo they had condoms in the seventies and it er DIDN'T prevent the AIDS epidemic. Neither did lavender scented lettuce leaves or especially tight speedos.

you could call this an existential refutation
condoms existed at that time and didnt have the effect you imply they would

but you knew that when you made the post , didnt you ?

[Peter Pedant]

Hi Andie
let us have a relevant discussion !

[Sqad]

Good question AOG.

PP..from what i gather, condoms are just as effective as this new drug.

You have to put the condom on for it to be effective and presumably one would have to take the drug to make it effective..;-)
Who supervises either?

[youngmafbog]

Well if only given to gay men it is wrong, if available to anyone who wants it then it should be ok and yes that should include prostitutes.

Prevention is far better, and generally cheaper, than cure so I am all for it given my proviso above.

[ToraToraTora]

is this a one off innoculation or what?

[andy-hughes]

"peter Pedant - "Hi Andie
let us have a relevant discussion !"

Absolutely - do you feel I am preventing that in some way?

[sandyRoe]

I think it's like Statins for the sexually active. Men who were at risk would be taking the tablets as long as they indulged in risky behaviour.

[Zacs-Master]

AOG, if you could provide figures on the amount the NHS has spent on treating people with AIDS versus the cost of treating all gay men with a vaccine, I will comment further.

[Peter Pedant]

Zax which er vaccine have you in mind ?

please do comment further

( US whole cost estimated as a trillion )

[Zacs-Master]

Truvada. US cost is irrelevant as we're talking NHS.

[Peter Pedant]

EMTRICITABINE; is two antiretroviral medicines in one tablet. It is used with other medicines to treat HIV and with safe sex practices to prevent HIV in high risk persons.

not a vaccine nor an inoculation

in excess of a thousand bucks a month

perhaps not a candidate for tap water

I cant find anything on the cost of treatment of HIV in the NHS -
the figures must be somewhere

US figures are relevant if they are the only ones we have got

[Zacs-Master]

So what is Truvada then (as mentioned in the article)?

[Peter Pedant]

it is this
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenofovir/emtricitabine

[Zacs-Master]

Ah I see, might have been clearer if you had stated that. Anyway, still awaiting figures.......

[jno]

Healthy Gay Men Should Be Given Hiv

says the Latest Posts headline.