Pharmac is widening access to a safe-sex drug, PrEP.
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Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) can reduce the risk of being infected with HIV by up to 99 percent.
The drug is common to men who have sex with men and some people in the transgender community.
Funded access to the drug has very tight restrictions - determined by the person engaging in specific sexual activity and detailing it to their doctor.
However, from next month that will change to the patient testing negative for HIV and their doctor thinking the drug is appropriate for them.
Pharmac proposed the change after receiving a $191 million funding boost in Budget 2022.
Other new funding decisions include blood and breast cancer medicines and eight multiple sclerosis treatments.
