Sexual health charities call for Treasury action UK

Main Category: Sexual Health / STDs
Article Date: 20 Jun 2004 - 10:00 PDT

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Commenting in response to reported contents of the forthcoming Treasury Public Service Agreement, Paul Ward, Deputy Chief Executive, Terrence Higgins Trust said: "I am dismayed that the Treasury appears to have ignored the rapidly growing costs of sexual ill health and HIV. The Public Service Agreement is a golden opportunity to improve the public's sexual health and save the NHS valuable resources.

"Left untackled, HIV care alone will cost the NHS an extra £300 million by 2010, and the NHS will be facing an additional £6 billion bill for lifetime HIV treatment. This is not small change - and I hope the Treasury will bear this in mind before publishing its final draft."

fpa chief executive Anne Weyman said: "The omission of sexual health from the treasury targets is iniquitous. Sexual health is a fundamental aspect of public health but also the most ignored and should be a key target for the treasury review. There are significant economic implications to the NHS in failing to prioritise sexual health, such as the high cost of unplanned pregnancies and treating the consequences of sexually transmitted infections. We urge the Treasury to reconsider and include targets on sexual health in its public service agreements."

Terrence Higgins Trust

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