UK Unveils Ambitious Plan to Eradicate HIV by 2030, Backed by 170 Million Pound Commitment

The United Kingdom government has formally launched its comprehensive Action Plan for HIV for the period spanning 2025 to 2030, specifically targeting England. This strategic document solidifies the national commitment to completely halt new transmissions of the virus before the close of the current decade. The announcement was made on December 1, 2025, coinciding with World AIDS Day, by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting. This ambitious initiative is underpinned by a substantial financial pledge exceeding 170 million pounds, clearly signaling the administration's serious intent regarding this public health goal.

This new strategy marks a significant pivot, shifting the primary focus from solely managing existing cases toward robust, comprehensive prevention efforts. The framework is built upon five core strategic pillars: Prevention, Testing, Treatment, Flourishing, and Collaboration. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) is spearheading the coordination of this extensive program, working closely with key agencies such as the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and NHS England to ensure effective implementation across the board.

While the groundwork for this plan is strong, with England having met the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets for the sixth consecutive year based on preliminary 2024 figures, recent trends necessitated a renewed approach. Specifically, the uptick in new diagnoses observed between 2020 and 2023 served as the crucial impetus for developing this new, more prevention-centric strategy. Professor Kevin Fenton, whose tenure as the Chief Advisor on HIV has been extended, is slated to guide the nation through this critical new phase of the fight against HIV.

A tangible element of the plan involves a dedicated initiative aimed at re-engaging 5,000 individuals who are currently not receiving necessary ongoing care, addressing what is often termed the 'retention gap' in treatment pathways. Furthermore, the plan strongly emphasizes equity, committing to meticulously track progress across the five population groups that continue to be disproportionately affected by the epidemic. Historically, the UK has already surpassed the initial UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets, and the immediate goal remains achieving the 95-95-95 benchmarks by 2025.

The UK Government firmly believes that achieving this significant public health milestone by 2030 is entirely attainable, provided there is sustained resolve and the effective deployment of available resources. This strategy is designed to be both comprehensive and well-resourced, offering a realistic pathway to resolve systemic issues, such as the uneven distribution of access to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP). Consequently, this new five-year roadmap represents a decisive shift toward proactive measures designed to drive new transmissions down to zero.