The UK government has announced a new HIV prevention and treatment programme that aims to re-engage thousands of people who have fallen out of medical care and to accelerate progress towards ending new HIV transmissions in England by 2030.

Launched on World Aids Day, December 1, the refreshed HIV Action Plan outlines how more than £170 million of new investment will be used to expand testing, strengthen prevention services, confront stigma, and secure the long-term sustainability of the national HIV response.

A central pillar of the plan is a significant expansion of routine opt-out HIV testing in emergency departments. More than £108 million will be invested between April 2026 and March 2029 to ensure that A&E patients in areas with the highest prevalence, including London and Manchester, are offered an HIV test as part of routine blood work unless they choose to decline.

A further £48 million will sustain hepatitis B and C testing within the same programme. Digital access to testing will also grow, with new options to request tests via the NHS App.

Alongside increasing testing, the plan places unprecedented focus on reconnecting people who have disengaged from HIV services. As many as one in ten people diagnosed with HIV are currently not in care.

To address this, the UK government will introduce the first-ever national retention and re-engagement initiative, backed by £9 million over three years. Local services will be expected to learn from retention reviews and strengthen their care pathways accordingly.

Prevention efforts will also be bolstered through a new national HIV Prevention England programme. This will promote safer sex, enhance education and awareness, encourage regular testing, and drive innovation in prevention services. Funding will also support the provision of formula milk and sterilising equipment for infants of women living with HIV.

Recognising the profound impact of stigma, the plan commits to new anti-stigma programmes across NHS trusts participating in the emergency department testing scheme. Health and social care staff will receive updated training, and specific work will address the needs of women living with HIV, including those navigating menopause.

Finally, the UK government said they will work with local partners to complete detailed HIV needs assessments, address workforce challenges in genitourinary medicine, and continue support for global health organisations at the centre of the international HIV response.

The news about the prevention plan comes after the UK government announced a 15% reduction in the country’s contribution to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, cutting it down to £850 million compared to their £1 billion pledge in the last round.