A ground-breaking PrEPX trial hosted by Bendigo Community Health Services in conjunction with Alfred Health and Victorian AIDS Council will be extended by three months as the HIV prevention is added to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

The State Government will fund the trial extension until June 30 to ensure participants can continue to access PrEP until it's listed on the PBS.

The PrEPX study has helped more than 4000 Victorians including more than 20 from the Bendigo region to access this HIV prevention tool with participants now able to transition to accessing PrEP through their regular GP.

Eliminating new HIV transmissions by 2020 is one of the goals of the PrEPX trial.

Resources are currently being developed for doctors and nurses to help them easily provide PrEP to their patients from day one.

Evidence shows that when taken daily PrEP can reduce the risk of HIV transmission by up to 99 per cent.

Together with condoms, frequent and regular sexual health screening and effective treatments for people living with HIV, Victorians have more tools than ever to prevent HIV.

The study, the second largest of its kind in Australia, is a partnership between the Victorian AIDS Council and Alfred Health.

More information on PrEP can be found at the Victorian AIDS Council website: https://vac.org.au/hiv-aids/pre-exposure-prophylaxis-prep

Visit www.bchs.com.au to learn more about our sexual health clinic and other general health services.