UK Prime Minister Starmer Takes HIV Test, Urges World Leaders To Follow Suit

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has taken a public HIV test and urged other world leaders to do the same. This marks the first time a sitting British prime minister and G7 leader has publicly undergone the test.

Starmer’s office released a video of the leader completing a rapid home HIV test in Downing Street on Friday, as part of a week-long nationwide initiative to promote HIV testing. The initiative aims to encourage more people to get tested, particularly since the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) estimates that approximately 4,700 people in England are living with undiagnosed HIV. Increased testing is central to identifying and helping those affected.

Starmer has also pledged his government’s commitment to ending new HIV cases in England by 2030. As part of this goal, a new “HIV action plan” will be published later this year, outlining strategies to meet the target.

In comments following the test, Starmer urged other world leaders to take a public HIV test as well, emphasizing the importance of knowing one’s HIV status. “If people test, they will know their status, it is better that people know,” he said. “You can then get access to treatment, and that will also help meet our collective target to end new HIV transmissions by 2030.”

The week-long initiative, organized by the Terrence Higgins Trust and funded by the Department of Health and Social Care, has been a staple in England since 2012. During the week, people across the country can order a free HIV test, with two types of at-home testing kits available. One kit provides results within 15 minutes, while the other, which tests for both HIV and syphilis, is sent to a laboratory for analysis.

Starmer’s public stance on HIV testing underscores his government’s commitment to tackling the virus and addressing the stigma surrounding it, encouraging more people to test and seek the treatment they need.