Members of the House of Lords in the UK have recently recommended the implementation of opt-out HIV testing in A&E and healthcare centers as part of the country’s efforts to eliminate the virus by 2030. The proposed method of testing would involve patients in high-risk areas being tested without requiring prior consent, which has been found to be cost-effective and effective in finding undiagnosed cases. The bi-partisan group of Lords suggested that this approach could be rolled out not just in high-prevalence areas but also in areas with five cases per 1,000 people in England and Wales.
The idea for opt-out HIV testing has been trialed since the early 2000s, with a successful pilot scheme conducted by various NHS hospitals in 2022. The program was carried out in partnership with the Terrence Higgins Trust, the National AIDS Trust, and the Elton John AIDS Foundation, and helped identify 261 previously undiagnosed cases in just 10 months. The scheme reportedly saved the NHS between £6 million and £8 million, according to Liberal Democrat Lord Baroness Barker.
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While the preliminary results from the pilot have been promising, further research needs to be conducted before the implementation can take place, according to Lord Evans of Rainbow, who presided over the oral questioning. The Lords paid tribute to Baroness Masham, who died earlier this week, for her activism aimed at ending the stigmatizing of people living with HIV.
The latest statistics from the National AIDS Trust revealed that there were more than 105,200 people living with HIV in the UK in 2019, with 94% of those believed to be diagnosed. However, on average, one in 16 people with HIV does not know they have the virus. Of the 98,552 people accessing HIV care in the UK, slightly more than two-thirds were men.
If the opt-out HIV testing approach is deemed effective enough, it could be a major step towards eliminating the virus by 2030. The Lords’ recommendations have raised hopes of saving lives and money while ending the stigma surrounding the virus. Lord Fowler suggested that the UK government should initiate a new drive to combat the stigma suffered by those with HIV, and the campaign could even be named after Baroness Masham. Lord Evans expressed agreement with this proposal and stated that he would refer it back to officials.
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