Global PrEP roll-out

In 2019 approximately 380,000-385,000 people have started pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) globally, with the majority of users in the United States. Increased PrEP uptake has led to reductions in new HIV diagnoses among gay men and other men who have sex with men in North America, Western Europe and Australia. Thailand, Vietnam, Brazil and the Philippines are also largely focusing PrEP implementation on men who have sex with men.

Other countries are targeting different populations. In eastern and southern Africa first-generation, large-scale PrEP programmes are focusing on adolescent girls and young women. South Africa, Kenya and India also have some focus on sex workers.

However, roll-out of PrEP remains slow and uneven due to the challenges associated with implementation and scale-up, as well as issues around individual adherence. As a result there is a serious discrepancy between those who would benefit most from PrEP and those currently accessing it.