Tim Ryan, manager of clinic services at Magnet in San Francisco, recently spoke with Daily Xtra’s Nic Kazamia about the possibilities and pitfalls of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Ryan, known as Nurse Tim, says that the clinic sees up to 15,000 patients a year, but only about five people a week ask about PrEP.
He thinks lack of information and the high cost of PrEP may be reasons for the low uptake.
“PrEP could be a financial perk for some drug companies because if you are buying it, it’s not cheap . . . it’s still in the bigger picture cheaper than trying to manage an HIV infection for 40 years.”
Although cost is a factor, Ryan thinks PrEP is a major breakthrough and another important tool in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
See the clip above for the full interview with Ryan.
For more on our comprehensive coverage of PrEP:
Part 1: Can a pill a day keep HIV away?
Part 2: A condom-free future?
Part 3: The controversy behind PrEP
Part 4: If gay men can avoid HIV with a pill, why aren’t they taking it?
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