Government unveils £170m HIV Action Plan to end new transmissions by 2030

The UK Government has announced its new HIV Action Plan aimed at eliminating new HIV transmissions in England by 2030. Unveiled on World AIDS Day by Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting, the strategy is backed by £170 million and described as “groundbreaking” in its ambition and scope.

The biggest new investment in HIV testing and care in decades.

At the heart of the plan is a national programme to re-engage approximately 5,000 people living with HIV who are no longer in care. Many have fallen out of treatment due to barriers such as mental health issues, addiction, poverty, or fear of stigma. The initiative promises targeted support to bring these individuals back into life-saving care.

Key measures include:

• Opt-out HIV testing in A&E departments during routine blood tests, initially rolled out in high-prevalence areas such as London and Manchester.
• A £5 million trial of home HIV testing kits available through the NHS App, offering a discreet route for those reluctant to attend sexual health clinics.
• Anti-stigma training for hospital staff in participating trusts, ensuring patients can access care without fear of discrimination.
• Continued investment in prevention, including access to PrEP and wider community engagement.

Streeting highlighted the progress made in treatment, noting that people living with HIV can now lead long, healthy lives and cannot pass the virus on to others when on effective medication. However, he warned that stigma remains “one of the biggest blocking factors” to achieving the 2030 goal.

Richard Angell OBE, Chief Executive of Terrence Higgins Trust, said: 
"The government has an ambition that is both momentous and historic: that England becomes the first country in the world to end new HIV cases. This new plan recognises the scale of the challenge, with the biggest new investment in HIV testing and care in decades. 

"National funding to re-engage people in life-saving HIV care, putting HIV home-testing on the NHS App and long-term funding for opt-out HIV and hepatitis testing in emergency departments will be transformational. This is what people with HIV need. This is what we have been calling for. Now we must work together to make it happen. 

"The leadership involved in pulling off this remarkable suite of initiatives is a tribute to Wes Streeting, Ashley Dalton and Kevin Fenton. We are in their debt, but will not hesitate to hold their feet to the fire."