New Public Health Scotland data shows Scotland is making progress on HIV, but key gaps remain
New data from Public Health Scotland shows that Scotland is moving closer to ending new HIV transmissions. But more action is needed to improve access to HIV prevention, testing, treatment and support.
The latest figures show that:
- 94% of the estimated 6,669 people living with HIV in Scotland had been diagnosed.
- 92% of people diagnosed with HIV were receiving treatment.
- 98% of those receiving treatment had an undetectable viral load. This means HIV cannot be passed on through sex.
This means Scotland is very close to meeting the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets: 95% of people living with HIV know their status, 95% of those diagnosed are receiving treatment, and 95% of those receiving treatment have an undetectable viral load.
This is encouraging progress. However, gaps in access to HIV prevention, testing, treatment and care must be addressed if Scotland is to end new HIV transmissions by 2030 and ensure everyone living with HIV in Scotland can live well.
Making PrEP easier to access
Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a medicine that prevents HIV. However, access is not equal across all communities.
Since the roll-out of PrEP in Scotland in 2017, 87% of people who had been prescribed PrEP were gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men. There have been small increases in its use among other groups, including women, heterosexual men, and trans and non-binary people. But more must be done to ensure everyone who could benefit from PrEP knows about it and can access it.
This should include:
- Making PrEP available outside sexual health clinics, including by investing in an online HIV prevention service.
- Understanding what prevents some communities from accessing PrEP and finding solutions to address these barriers; and
- Understanding why some people stop taking PrEP and finding ways to support them to continue using it.
Finding HIV earlier
HIV testing has increased overall, but testing in sexual health services has not returned to pre Covid-19 pandemic levels.
In 2025, around one in three people newly diagnosed with HIV were diagnosed late. More than half of those diagnosed late already had advanced HIV. Earlier diagnosis means people can start treatment sooner and protect their health.
Testing has increased in Scotland’s prisons, supported by ‘High Intensity Test and Treat’ programmes that Waverley Care, along with other partners, has helped to deliver. However, testing rates remain below Scottish Government targets and vary widely across Scotland.
Previous modelling undertaken by Public Health Scotland also suggests there may be around 400 people living with undiagnosed HIV in Scotland.
The Scottish Government’s commitment to introduce opt-out blood-borne virus testing in emergency departments is an important step to find all those living with HIV, but we also need to increase testing rates in other settings including prisons, drug and alcohol services, sexual health services and GP practices.
Reaching people who face barriers to services
The number of people diagnosed with HIV for the first time in Scotland has fallen since 2019, although there was a small increase between 2024 and 2025 from 125 to 132. Almost half of these diagnoses were linked to heterosexual sex, yet the number of heterosexual people accessing PrEP remains very low, strengthening the case for widening awareness of and access to HIV prevention.
The majority of people (54%) newly diagnosed in Scotland in 2025 are thought to have acquired HIV outside Scotland. It is essential that New Scots are able to access clear information, testing, treatment and support without facing stigma or wider barriers to care.
Helping people stay in HIV care
Although 92% of people diagnosed with HIV were receiving treatment in 2025, some people are still missing out on care. At the end of 2025:
- 334 people had not attended a specialist HIV service in the previous 18 months.
- A further 1,070 people had not attended a specialist HIV service. They had also either not used any other healthcare service in that time or did not have an available Community Health Index.
People may find it difficult to access care for many reasons, including stigma, poor mental health and socio-economic factors. To address this, the Scottish Government must fund a national programme to support people to overcome the barriers they face and reconnect with treatment and care.
Third sector organisations like Waverley Care have a vital role in providing this support. They must have the funding and resources needed to do it.
Tackling HIV stigma
Stigma cuts across every part of the HIV response. It can prevent people from accessing PrEP, getting tested and staying connected to care. Tackling it will require a coordinated response from the Scottish Government, NHS, local government, third sector and communities affected by HIV.
Turning the data into action
This latest data gives us a clear picture of where progress has been made, and where more action is needed.
To end HIV transmission by 2030, we need to make sure everyone can access the prevention, testing, treatment and support they need, wherever they live and whatever barriers they face. That means widening access to PrEP, increasing opportunities for HIV testing, supporting people to stay connected to care and tackling the stigma that continues to affect people living with HIV.
The Scottish Government’s new HIV plan must turn this evidence into a properly funded programme of action. Waverley Care will continue to work with people living with HIV, communities, NHS services and partners across Scotland to help make that happen, and to ensure that people living with HIV can live well, free from stigma and isolation.