The latest statistics on HIV in Scotland, published today clearly show that targeted action is needed to ensure that everyone living with HIV is diagnosed and on effective treatment. Scotland has committed to reaching the goal of ending new HIV transmissions by 2030, and earlier this year published an HIV Transmission Elimination Delivery Plan. But that plan and ambition will only be realised if the right steps are taken as soon as possible. At a time where we now have HIV treatment and prevention medication that are so effective that new transmissions can be stopped, every opportunity must be taken to reach all people and communities who are living with or affected by HIV.

The data is clear on areas that must be prioritised and responded to: more people have to be reached through scaling up testing to find the estimated 500 people in Scotland who are living with HIV and undiagnosed; the rise in people who are living with HIV but not in care must be addressed; and the barriers to PrEP access – particularly for vulnerable and minoritised people - have to be overcome.

We urge the Scottish Government to now double down on the actions set out in the Elimination Delivery Plan by fast-tracking and funding the interventions that are needed. The recent stigma campaign in Scotland demonstrates a recognition of the value of public communication and awareness of HIV, and this should now be followed with funding to support an HIV testing week in Scotland. Alongside this, we hope that the key pillars of testing – for example accelerating the opt-out testing programme in A&E departments - can be quickly progressed.

The concerning rise in people who have disengaged from HIV care needs to be responded to with a re-engagement programme to find and support everyone living with HIV and not currently accessing treatment. There also needs to be a strategy to address the reasons that lead people to disengage from care in the first place, such as the experience of stigma. We hope to work with the Scottish Government on our recommendations, soon to be published, that highlight key actions for meeting the mental health needs of people living with HIV that are critical to supporting people to stay in care, and for their quality of life.

Over recent years there has been significant progress on HIV in Scotland. To ensure that progress is not lost, continued commitment is needed to respond to this latest data and the right actions must now be taken to support everyone to be able to live well with HIV, and to prevent new transmissions.