The framework agreement enables public sector bodies to procure testing, diagnosis and treatment services from pre-approved suppliers with digital offers quickly and efficiently, giving communities fast, discreet, and convenient online access to care, without the need for in-person consultations. Services that can be procured via the framework include contraceptive advice and self-tests for sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

In addition, the framework agreement supports Level 3 sexual health clinics - specialist community sexual health services which include the provision of comprehensive, confidential, open-access sexual health services - to modernise HIV treatment pathways by connecting them with providers offering remote management solutions encompassing prevention, post-exposure treatment and ongoing monitoring. Services may include virtual consultations, home delivery of antiretroviral medication and home-testing kits for regular health checks.

Michael Sevilla Hughes, category manager - health at NHS SBS, said: ‘For many individuals, in-person consultations can feel intimidating or embarrassing, potentially delaying access to care,. Online channels can prove less prohibitive and encourage consumers forward to test, treat and take preventative measures.

‘Using this framework agreement, local authorities and NHS organisations can streamline the commissioning of online services that address three key areas: STI testing and treatment, contraception, and HIV prevention. The digital element can help improve reach and reduce appointment waits and costs.'

He added: ‘The government's 10-year plan sets out three radical shifts for healthcare - from hospital to community, analogue to digital and sickness to prevention, ambitions which the framework agreement aligns with.

'By offering discreet, convenient, and accessible digital pathways, online and virtual options can encourage earlier engagement with vital sexual healthcare and treatment. In tandem with conventional pathways, this approach improves reach to more diverse populations and bridges gaps in areas where local clinics or support services are limited, helping to shape a more inclusive, preventative and future-ready NHS.'